How to insert a perfect chest drain.
BACKGROUND
Not many juniors get several opportunities to perform chest drains. It can be difficult to insert a chest drain perfectly in distressed patients with pneumothorax or pleural effusion under local anaesthesia.


METHODS
This article provides various practical tips for junior trainees for inserting chest drains perfectly, based upon the experience of the authors and published literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Correct positioning, enough local anaesthetic into the right space, the use of a needle to locate both anaesthetised skin and the intercostal space and knowing the depth of the pleural cavity and the purpose of insertion all may help to insert a chest drain perfectly.
Durai
R
R
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Lewisham, London. dr_durai@yahoo.com
Ng
Ph C H
PC
D015505:Chest Tubes; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004322:Drainage / Q000592:standards; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans