Various diseases involving the pleura (covering of lungs) cause accumulation of fluid/ pus/ air in the chest cavity. This compresses the lungs and has to be drained. A thin tube needs to be put in the chest cavity to drain this collection. We perform this procedure under ultrasound guidance, to ensure safety on a routine basis. Also the cavity can be sealed after the collection is drained to prevent re-accumulation in case of air of rapidly collecting fluid in cases like malignancy, liver and kidney diseases.
Indications:
Pneumothorax (air)
Pleural effusion
Empyema (pus)
Hemothorax (blood)
Malignant effusion
Chylothorax (lymph)
Postoperative: thoracotomy, oesophagectomy, cardiac surgery Chest-Medicine