Highland Trauma Guide
Clinical decision-support only — does not replace attending supervision or institutional policy
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Chest Tube Irrigation

Procedure for traumatic hemothorax irrigation in hemodynamically stable patients.

AHS Official
Updated: Current
Chest tubeHemothoraxIrrigation
⚠️ For hemodynamically STABLE patients only.
🔪Procedure
▼
1
Cefazolin 2g IV pre-procedure
2
Place 28F chest tube or 14F pigtail (attending discretion)
3
Connect to Pleur-Evac, measure initial output
4
Irrigate with 1L warmed isotonic crystalloid
Surgical: disconnect, pour 1L warmed NS, reconnect. 14F: use 3-way stopcock.
5
Secure tube. Mark output on Pleur-Evac. Post-procedure CXR.
⚠️
Do not irrigate beyond 24 hours from chest tube placement.
Status
AHS Official Protocol
Source
sites.google.com/view/hghtrauma/chest-tube-irrigation
Last reviewed / updated
Current
Clinical decision-support only — does not replace attending supervision or institutional policy