title: Chest Tubes: Generalities.
abstract: Insertion, management, and withdrawal of chest tubes is part of the routine activity of thoracic surgeons. The selection of the chest tube and the strategy for each of these steps is usually built on knowledge, practice, experience, and judgment. The indication to insert a chest tube into the pleural cavity is the presence of air or fluid within it. Various types and sizes of chest tubes are now commercially available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome Sapienza, V.le del Policlinico, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: federico.venuta@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Venuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome Sapienza, V.le del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diso
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome Sapienza, V.le del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anile
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Rome Sapienza, Ospedale S.Andrea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Erino A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rendina
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome Sapienza, V.le del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Onorati
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000266:history; D020878:Device Removal; D004322:Drainage; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Air leak; Chest drainage; Chest tube; Pleural effusions; Pneumothorax