Chest injuries are common following blunt and penetrating trauma. Fewer than 10 per cent of blunt injuries and 15-30 per cent of penetrating injuries require surgical management1. Most can be managed with tube thoracostomy to expand the lung (pneumothorax) or to drain blood (haemothorax)2. Although tube thoracostomy is fairly effective, it can be associated with complications such as mispositioning, malfunction, or injury by insertion through the diaphragm or liver3-5. The standard tube size.~Has usuallybeen32-40Fr.Insertion of such a large -calibre tube requires a cut-down technique, can be traumatic, and is often associated with signiﬁcant pain and discomfort. Pigtail catheters, originally used by cardiologists to drain chronic pericardial effusion6, were later modiﬁed and adapted for pleural drainage7. Because of their small size and reduced trauma during placement, patients may experience signiﬁcantly decreased pain and discomfort. Pigtail catheters are frequently used in the paediatric population8-10, as well as in adult, non-traumatic situations11-17 Pigtail catheters inserted at the bedside have similar efﬁcacy to traditional chest tube.
Assessment and evaluation of Pigtail application in drainage of pneumothorax and haemothorax.