Institutional Policies and Practices Vis-à-Vis Chest Tube Management in Pneumothorax: A Nationwide Survey.

Abstract

C onsiderable heterogeneity exists in the management of pneumothorax, both in observed practice and across various best practice guidelines.1–3 Furthermore, guidelines are in need of an update to reflect evolving scientific understanding and clinical evidence; the most recent guidelines (BTS)2 were published over a decade ago. In the interim, there have been considerable changes in pneumothorax treatment paradigms, including a shift towards the use of small-bore [≤ 14 French (F)] chest tubes (SBCTs) in place of large-bore ones (LBCTs).4 We sought to identify current practices across the United States related to the inpatient management of chest tubes inserted for pneumothorax.