Chest tube insertionDefinition: A chest tube is a hollow,
flexible tube in the chest. It acts like a drain. - Chest tubes
drain blood, fluid, or air from around your lungs. This allows
your lungs to fully expand. - The tube is placed between your
ribs and into the space between the inner lining and the outer
lining of your lung. This is called the pleural space. Chest
drainage tube insertion; Insertion of tube into chest; Tube
thoracostomy When your chest tube is inserted, you will lie on
your side or sit partly upright, with one arm over your head. -
The area where the tube will be inserted is numbed. Sometimes
you will receive medicine through a vein (intravenous, or IV) to
make you relaxed and sleepy. - Your skin where the tube will be
inserted will be cleaned. - The chest tube is inserted through a
1-inch cut in your skin between your ribs. Then it is guided to
the correct spot. - The tube is connected to a bottle or
canister. Suction is often used to help it drain. Other times,
gravity alone will allow i