The majority (76%) of chest injuries resulting in pneumothorax or hemothorax require only a tube thoracostomy for successful treatment [1][2][3].
One of the most common errors in the management of a significant hemothorax is placing a chest tube that is not large enough to adequately evacuate blood.
Age | Weight | Chest tube size |
newborn to 1 year | 3-5 kg | 10-12 Fr |
1 to 2 years | 6-9 kg | 12-16 Fr |
2 to 4 years | 10-11 kg | 16-20 Fr |
12-14 kg | 20-22 Fr | |
5 to 7 years | 15-18 kg | 22-24 Fr |
19-22 kg | 24-28 Fr | |
8 to 11 years | 23-30 kg | 28-32 Fr |
greater than 11 years | > 30 kg | 32-42 Fr |
Training models have been developed and successfully implemented to teach pediatric chest tube insertion to pediatric and pediatric emergency department residents [4].
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