Removal of Chest Tube in a Patient with Persistent Air Leak
Keywords:
persistent air leak, pleural empyema, chest tube, unresectable lung cancer.Abstract
Introduction: Air leak is the most common complication in thoracic surgery. It is currently a contraindication for the removal of the chest tube. However, there have been reports of cases where removal of the chest tube is described in the presence of air leak. Many surgeons are skeptical, and this approach is presently considered a controversial issue.
Objective: To report the case of a patient operated on for unresectable lung cancer assisted with a chest tube, which was later removed, despite presenting persistent air leakage.
Case report: The case of a 61-year-old male patient who underwent an exploratory thoracotomy for unresectable lung cancer is reported. Later, he evolved with empyema and persistent air leak, the chest tube was clamped and it was successfully removed.
Conclusions: In patients with persistent air leak, removal of the chest tube can be evaluated if criteria such as the absence of subcutaneous emphysema, pleural empyema, as well as lung collapse are met in an evolutionary radiological study when the tube is occluded for a period of 24 hours.
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