Chest Tube

A chest tube, or a thoracostomy tube, is a flexible tube that can be inserted through the chest wall between the ribs into the pleural space. Thoracostomy tubes are commonly made from PVC or silicone. They range from 6 French to 40 French. Most are fenestrated along the sides of the insertion end, and the tubes have a radiopaque stripe. After placement, the distal end of the tube is connected to a pleura-evac system. There are 3 chambers of a pleura-evac: the suction chamber, the water seal chamber, and the collection chamber. The water seal chamber acts as a one-way valve, allowing air to escape from gravity but not to re-enter the thoracic cavity. See Image. Chest Tube Example.