How do people feel about using chest drains pre-hospital?
In some places they just do a thoracostomy, make sure the hole is a decent size
and don't put the drain in until they reach hospital. I don't know if this results
in more complications such as the thoracostomy hole closing off en route, haemmorhage
from the wound site, infection etc but it certainly saves time and means you
have less equipment to worry about in a speeding, crowded ambulance.
Ross Murphy
SpR Edinburgh
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