Chest Tube Insertion

Details of Procedure:

The patient was correctly identified, and a time out procedure was performed. The patient was positioned supine with left arm up. His left chest was prepped and drapped in sterile fashion. I then performed a rib block in the area of the left chest anterior axillary line 3cm superior to the nipple. I made an incision and created a subcutaneous tunnel to the area of chest wall entry superiorly. The chest wall was entered bluntly and finger sweep revealed no adhesions. The chest tube was placed and secured in position. There was a release of air upon chest tube insertion and there was an initial air leak which cleared. The tube was secured with 2-0silk suture, and a sterile dressing was applied.

CXR was obtained upon completion of the procedure