Category: Cardiothoracic surgery

Though modern chest drainage systems integrate their components into single, user-friendly units, they are fundamentally based on a historical three-bottle system. This article will explain exactly what are the three types of bottles in a chest tube and their critical functions for managing conditions like pneumothorax or pleural effusions.

Over 800,000 heart surgeries are performed annually in the U.S., many of which require a sternal incision to access the heart and surrounding structures. Understanding **what are the different types of sternal incisions** can provide clarity for patients preparing for surgery and help demystify the process.

For patients undergoing an emergency department thoracotomy following severe trauma, the overall survival rate can be low, with one review noting a rate of just 7.4%. This makes understanding **what are the signs of life in a thoracotomy** critical for medical professionals seeking to make rapid, informed decisions and guide treatment.

Recent medical research, including a notable study in the *New England Journal of Medicine*, has shed new light on the adult thymus, suggesting its importance continues later in life and challenging long-held assumptions. This new understanding has brought the potential complications into sharper focus, leading many to ask: **Is thymus surgery risky?**

Affecting approximately 1 in 400 births, pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, characterized by a caved-in sternum. If you're wondering how to lift sternum, it's crucial to understand the underlying causes and the range of safe, medically supervised treatments available.

Affecting approximately 1 in 300 to 400 live births, pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity. For those unfamiliar with the medical term, its physical manifestation is often described differently, which leads to the question: **What is pectus excavatum more commonly referred to?**

Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in every 400 children. While the visible indentation is widely known, the potential downsides of pectus excavatum extend far beyond appearance, encompassing a range of physical and psychological challenges. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these lesser-known effects.

Medical data shows chest drain removal is highly variable, depending on the condition being treated. The question of *How long should a chest drain stay in?* has a nuanced answer that requires understanding the patient's clinical progress. This guide provides clarity on the factors determining the duration of a chest drain.

According to the National Institutes of Health, chest drain insertion is a common procedure with several critical indications across various clinical scenarios. Knowing **what are the indications for a chest drain** is vital for understanding this common medical intervention used to treat conditions affecting the lungs and pleura.