Key findings
• Early chest tube removal (≤3 days post-insertion) is feasible, and the rates of complications and interventions are comparable to late tube removal.
What is known and what is new?
• Management and timing of chest tube removal vary depending on the physician’s experience, training, and clinical judgment.
• Timing of chest tube removal in patients on a ventilator is subject to controversy.
• Early chest tube removal protocol can be implemented in high-volume trauma centers to further validate its safety and effectiveness.
What is the implication, and what should change now?
• Multicenter and larger sample sizes studies would be beneficial to support the early chest tube removal protocol.
Publication: Abdulrahman Y, Al-Ani M, Farhat M, Khallafalla H, Abu Amr A, Ajaj A, Al-Zubaidi A, Chughtai T, El-Menyar A, Asim M, Rizoli S, Al-Thani H. Implementing a chest tube removal protocol in patients with thoracic trauma: a prospective clinical study. J Thorac Dis 2025;17(3):1301-1311. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-1229
Journal of Thoracic Disease
Observational study
People
Implementing a chest tube removal protocol in patients with thoracic trauma: a prospective clinical study
24-Mar-2025
All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-1229/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.