Modified Seldinger technique for the insertion of standard chest tubes.
Closed tube thoracostomy is a standard procedure for the evacuation of air, blood, or other materials from the pleural space. This paper describes a modification of the Seldinger technique that facilitates chest tube insertion. Either a Nelaton or Thieman catheter is threaded into the side drainage hole and out the tip of a standard Argyle-type chest tube. After using the clamp to insert the catheter into the pleural space through a previously dissected tract, the catheter serves as a guide over which the chest tube is inserted. The technique is simple to use, effective, and safe. It employs standard, inexpensive materials to insert chest tubes in such a way as to minimize the potential traumatic complications inherent in other techniques.
Altman
E
E
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, 8 Ha'Aliya Street, 35254, Haifa, Israel.
Ben-Nun
A
A
Curtis
W
W
Best
L A
LA
D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*