title: Complications of chest tubes: a focused clinical synopsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chest tube placement, or tube thoracostomy, is an invasive procedure designed to evacuate air and/or fluid from the thorax, whether emergent or elective. In the placement of these devices particular attention and effort must be made to understand safe and reliable anatomic techniques and device maintenance so as to avoid serious injury to the patient. This review focuses on complications of chest tube placement, with the emphasis on patient safety and error prevention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a paucity of high-quality recent literature on tube thoracostomy complications. With the advent of value-driven healthcare, increasing emphasis is being placed on appropriate procedural indications, procedural safety, and patient satisfaction. Good clinical outcomes are critical to achieve and maintain in this context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the high volume of tube thoracostomies globally, greater awareness of potential complications and preventive strategies is needed. The authors attempt to bridge this important gap.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Surgery bLevel 1 Resource Trauma Center, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania cDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio dDepartment of Research & Innovation, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Ronson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Papadimos
authors.forename: Stanislaw P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stawicki
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013907:Thoracostomy; D013908:Thoracotomy