Description
Chest drainage is a procedure whereby air, blood or f luid is drained from the pleural cavity to allow for lung expansion and prevent/reverse respiratory dysfunction. It is potentially a life saving procedure in tension pneumothorax. It is an advanced skill that needs to be learnt and maintained by all medical practitioners, especially in the field of anaesthesia and intensive care, emergency medicine and surgery. This article succinctly discusses the applied anatomy, indications, clinical presentation, techniques and management of chest drainage and complications.
