title: Comparison of the efficacy of small and large-bore thoracostomy tubes for pleural space evacuation in canine cadavers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is a difference in the amounts of air (A), low-viscosity fluid (LV), or high-viscosity fluid (HV) that can be aspirated from the pleural cavity of canine cadavers using small-bore (SB) or large-bore (LB) thoracostomy tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental ex vivo study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six canine cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each cadaver was randomly assigned to 1 of 6 groups (SB-A, LB-A, SB-LV, LB-LV, SB-HV, LB-HV). In each cadaver bilateral thoracostomy tubes (either SB or LB) were placed and 20 mL/kg of air, LV fluid, or HV fluid was instilled via 1 thoracostomy tube. Both tubes were aspirated and the volume aspirated was recorded and analyzed as a percentage of instilled air or fluid volume. The procedure was repeated on the contralateral hemithorax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in air or fluid recovery when SB and LB groups were compared. Median (range) air recovery volumes in the SB-A and LB-A groups were 101.5% (94.4-115.8%) and 102.8% (94.1-107.8%), respectively (P = 0.898). Recovery of LV fluid was 93.5% (79.2-99.0%) for SB-LV and 85.8% (77.1-101.8%) for LB-LV cadavers (P = 0.305) and recovery percentages of HV fluid were 92.6% (86.1-96.2%) and 91.4% (74.2-96.4%) for SB-HV and LB-HV groups, respectively (P > 0.999). There was no significant difference between SB and LB groups when all substances were combined (94.1% [79.2-115.8%] and 93.5% [74.2-107.8%], respectively, P = 0.557).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SB and LB thoracostomy tubes demonstrated similar efficacy in removing known amounts of air, LV fluid, and HV fluid from the pleural space of canine cadavers. Further study is necessary to determine if SB and LB thoracostomy tubes demonstrate similar efficacy in clinical veterinary patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706.
authors.forename: Tara J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fetzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706.
authors.forename: Jonathan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: large-bore thoracostomy tube; pleural effusion; pleural space; pneumothorax; small-bore thoracostomy tube