me53
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Posts:46
Everything I've seen online indicates a pneumonectomy does not require or use a chest tube - yet I recently had both. The doctor said it was to "get out bacteria and cancer cells" but I'm not sure that makes sense - does it??
Forums
Reply # - December 1, 2016, 05:53 AM
You might need more
You might need more clarification from your doctor as to the reason for placing a chest tube, but there are valid reasons for their use:
"There are 2 reasons why a chest tube should be used routinely after pneumonectomy. First, it provides immediate information on the amount of blood that the patient may lose after the operation. Although as a rule the blood loss is insignificant and should not exceed 200 to 300 mL, instances are known of massive blood loss due to a slipped ligature or other cause. A pleural drain placed for 24 hours provides this information and prompts the surgeon to re-explore the chest immediately. The second reason for placing the pleural drain has been pointed out by Dr. Cooley: 3 it is to equalize intrathoracic pressure changes. When the patient is turned from the decubitus to the supine position after the operation, the mediastinum shifts, and air in the post-pneumonectomy space becomes compressed, often resulting in immediate subcutaneous emphysema, sometimes massive." - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC116753/
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - December 1, 2016, 09:08 PM
Thank you, it is good to see
Thank you, it is good to see discussion that makes some sense, although I wonder re the controversy and whether at present the thinking has settled onto not using one (this is from 2002 and all I saw was more recent; my surgeon was certainly taught and practicing before 2002 though). Thank you for the link and info, at least I can feel better re the scar now, and have a rationale that makes sense.