Risk of Pneumothorax With and Without Chest Tube Clamping in Patients With Pleural Pathology

Risk of 24 Hour-pneumothorax After Chest Tube Removal With and Without Chest Tube Clamping in Patients With Pleural Pathology at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases

Through this randomized controlled clinical trial, we aim to identify whether there is a difference in the incidence of 24 hour pneumothorax after chest tube removal, in two blindly randomized groups of patients: The first group with chest tube clamping 6 hours prior to removal, and the second group there will be no chest tube clamping.

The data will be prospectively collected from patient records from the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases Ismael Cosío Villegas.

Patients with an indication of chest tube removal will be randomized to two possible arms: clamping (for 6 hours before removal) or not clamping (immediate removal).

Incidence of 24hour pneumothorax after chest tube removal will be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 16 years and more.
• Patients hospitalized in the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases.
• Patients who had a chest tube placement during their stay at the hospital, by any cause.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who refuse to sign the informed consent and who refuse to participate in the study.
• Patients who die before randomization.
• Patients who gets chest tube removal before being randomized.