Zeitschrift für Allgemeinmedizin

Endoscopic Extraction of an Anchored Chest/Mediastinal Tube

Abstract

Rubchevski Victor, Yaron D Barac, Kabaha Majed and Aravot Dan

Cardiac wound bed drainage is achieved via large-bore plastic tube(s), which are typically removed within 48 hours, to lower risk of arrhythmia and tissue damage. While standard tube removal is simple and rapid, tubes inadvertently sutured to the chest wall are removed through a complex surgical procedure. Herein, we describe a novel tube extraction procedure, using an endoscopic scissor under bronchoscopic guidance. Tube extraction was achieved in all three presented cases, and patient recovery and wound healing periods were similar to those standard removal of nonsutured tubes. This report demonstrates the safety and convenience of the proposed method as a feasible alternative to invasive chest tube extraction.