Comparison of Morbidity Associated with the use of Large Versus Small-Bore Chest Tubes in Patients Managed for Stage-I Empyema Thoracis

Muhammad Usman; Adeel Wyne; Asad Bilal Mir; Farhan Ahmed Majeed; Kamran Rahim; Rehan Haider

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v73i3.9307

Authors

Muhammad Usman Department of Surgery, GDA Hospital, Gwadar Balochistan Pakistan
Adeel Wyne Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Multan/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Asad Bilal Mir Department of Surgery, Scout Hospital, Chitral Pakistan
Farhan Ahmed Majeed Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Kamran Rahim Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Rehan Haider Department of Surgery, PAF Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v73i3.9307

Keywords:

Chest tube, Empyema, Pain, Thoracis

Abstract

Objective: To compare pain and other complications with the use of large versus small-bore chest tubes in patients managed for Stage-I empyema thoracis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Multan Pakistan, from Jan 2015 to Jan 2022.

Methodology: The study was conducted at the Trauma and Surgery Department. Files and charts of patients who were managed for Stage-I empyema thoracic in our hospital during the study period were assessed in detail. Patients were divided into two groups based on the size of the chest tube inserted to manage empyema thoracic. The presence of post-operative pain, obstruction, dislodgment and tube site infection were compared in both groups.

Results: Out of 90 patients of Stage-I empyema thoracic, 43(47.8%) were inserted in small-bore chest tubes, while 47(52.2%) were inserted in large-bore chest tubes. Post-procedural pain was found significantly more in patients inserted in large chest tubes than those inserted in small bore tubes (p-value-0.018). All other complications did not differ statistically significantly in both groups.

Conclusion: Most patients in both groups did not show significant complications after the chest tube insertion. Small chest tubes were better in terms of less post-procedural pain than large chest tubes, but other complications were not significantly different in both groups.
Key words: Chest tube, Empyema, Pain, Thoracis.