Drainage Amount for Removal of Thoracostomy Tube

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pneumothorax; Pleural Effusion
• Interventions: Other: Drainage <2 mL/kg; Other: No drainage threshold

• Registration Number: NCT00575198
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Davis

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether chest tubes can be safely removed without considering how much fluid is draining through the tube.

Detailed Description

Thoracostomy tubes are routinely used to drain the pleural space of fluid and gas to optimize pulmonary mechanics. Clinicians frequently postpone removal of thoracostomy tubes if the drainage from the tube exceeds a specific volume threshold for the prior 24 hours. However, there is substantial variability in the drainage volume threshold that different clinicians use, and no threshold has been established as clearly superior to any other. Removing tubes independently of the drainage volume may result in a greater risk of pleural effusion or pneumothorax requiring an invasive drainage procedure. However, removing tubes independently of the drainage volume might also expedite recovery by allowing earlier removal of the tube, thus diminishing pain and increasing patient mobility.

Thoracostomy tube management practices, including the drainage volume threshold used, may be dissimilar for different types of disease processes, so this study will be restricted to patients who required a thoracostomy tube for treatment of traumatic injury.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-12
• Study First Submitted: 2007-12-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-12-14
• Study First Posted: 2007-12-18
• Primary Completion: 2012-09
• Study Completion: 2012-12
• Status Verified: 2017-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-06-19
• Last Update Posted: 2017-06-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 280

Inclusion Criteria

• Thoracostomy tube in place for <72 hours
• Age at least 14 years
• Hospitalized for traumatic injury or elective operation

Exclusion Criteria

• Thoracostomy tube already removed from the pleural cavity of interest
• Mediastinal tubes
• Death expected within 48 hours
• Prisoner status
• Severe congestive heart failure
• End-stage liver disease
• End-stage renal disease
• History of or suspected empyema involving the pleural cavity of interest
• History of or anticipated need for pleurodesis of the pleural cavity of interest
• Malignant pleural effusion
• Pregnancy
• Previous participation in this study
• Thoracostomy tube drainage already <2 mL/kg

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	Drainage <2 mL/kg	Drainage \<2 mL/kg
1	No drainage threshold	No drainage threshold

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Invasive drainage procedure	Within 60 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to thoracostomy tube removal	Within 60 days
Pulmonary symptoms	60 days
Mortality	60 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of California, Davis, Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Sacramento, California, United States