5th September 2020

A 30-year-old man is recovering on the ward following a chest drain removal for the drainage of a traumatic haemothorax

A 30-year-old man is recovering on the ward following a chest drain removal for the drainage of a traumatic haemothorax. The drain was in-situ for 24 hours. It has been 4 hours since this was removed, and he is still in some pain and feels breathless. Vital signs are heart rate 90, respiratory rate 24, blood pressure 120/90, temperature 37.1°C and O₂ saturations 94%. The chest drain insertion site does not appear inflamed and there is no exudate. On chest x-ray, there is a large area of opacification near the insertion site.

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