Suction Versus Water Seal for Initial Treatment of Traumatic Pneumothorax Trial

Suction Versus Water Seal for Initial Treatment of Traumatic Pneumothorax Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effect of placing chest tubes to water seal versus suction initially, in patients with traumatic pneumothoraces, on overall chest tube duration.

The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does placing chest tubes to water seal initially results in a shorter chest tube duration, without an increase in complications?

Alternating each month, patients' chest tubes will either be placed to water seal or to suction initially. All other management decisions related to the chest tube will be left to the providers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• admitted to the trauma surgery service
• pneumothorax requiring a chest tube

Exclusion Criteria:

• less than 18 years olf
• pregnant
• prisoner
• greater than 300cc of hemothorax on CT
• chest tube placed prior to CT scan