Comparison of the Amount of Air Leakage Into the Thoracic Cavity Associated with Three Thoracostomy Tube Materials in Canine Cadavers

This study was performed to compare the amount of air leakage into the thoracic cavity associated with three thoracostomy tube materials (silicone, polyvinyl chloride, red rubber) in canine cadavers. Differences in intrapleural pressures (IPPs) measured before and after tube placement and before and after tube removal were calculated. The duration of air leakage around the tubes was assessed by use of a 3-chamber thoracic drainage system. A greater IPP difference was detected between before and after tube placement for a red rubber tube than a polyvinyl chloride tube (P = 0.0127). No significant difference was detected among the three groups between before and after removing the thoracostomy tube (P = 0.8145). No significant difference in bubbling duration was detected among the three groups (P = 0.2302). More intermittent bubbling after the continuous bubbling endpoint occurred in a red rubber tube than a polyvinyl chloride tube while the tube remained in the thoracic cavity (P = 0.03). In conclusion, the use of a polyvinyl chloride tube appears to be more effective than the use of a red rubber tube in preventing air leakage around the thoracostomy tube during placement and during the period that the tube remains in the