Retrospective evaluation of patients with tube thoracostomy in the emergency department, examination of tube thoracostomy placement mistakes and complications

Aim: Tube thoracostomy is a surgical method frequently used by thoracic surgeons and emergency physicians to drain air, fluid, pus, blood, and bile from the pleural cavity. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics, complications, morbidity/mortality of patients who underwent tube thoracostomy in the emergency department of our hospital. Methods: Our cross-sectional study included 111 patients who applied to the emergency department and underwent tube thorastomy in 2019. Pearson chi-square tes, Fischear Exact test and Mann Whitney U test were used in the analysis of the data in our study. Results: 77.5(86)% of the patients in our study were male and the mean age was 40.5±20.4 years. In our study 22.5(25)% patient were exitus and 54.1(60)% were discharged. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 8.9±6.3 days. Traumatic pneumothorax was found in 79.3(88)% of the patients who underwent tube thoracostomy, and spontaneous pneumothorax in 20.7(23)%. In our study, the incidence of pneumothorax in patients under 40 years of age was found to be significantly higher than in patients over 40 years of age (p=0,003). Complications developed in 17.1(19)% of the patients. The most common complication is malposition. Conclusion: Tube thoracostomy is frequently performed in our emergency department. Although it is a life-saving procedure, complications are frequently seen and may result in death. Compliance with surgical sterility and experience can reduce morbidity and mortality. Key words: Tube thoracostomy, complication, pneumothorax, emergency