What Is a Chest Tube? A Plain-Language Guide

Last verified: October 6, 2026. A chest tube is a flexible, hollow drain that is placed through the chest wall into the space surrounding the lung. Its job is to remove air, blood or other fluid that has collected there, so that the lung can expand and work normally. It is connected on the outside to a drainage system that collects what comes out and prevents air from flowing back in. This guide explains what a chest tube is, how it and its drainage system are built, the main types, how it differs from other tubes with similar-sounding names, and why it matters to people who purchase, stock and manage clinical equipment. It is general information, not clinical or safety training; always follow your institution’s procedures and the manufacturer’s instructions.

What Is a Chest Tube?

The lungs sit inside the chest, and each lung is wrapped in a thin, slippery double membrane. Between the two layers of that membrane is a narrow space called the pleural space. Normally it contains only a trace of lubricating fluid, and the slight suction effect within it helps hold the lung open against the chest wall. When air, blood or other fluid collects in that space, it can compress the lung and make breathing difficult.

A chest tube, sometimes called a thoracostomy tube or chest drain, is the tool used to remove that unwanted material. A clinician places the tube through the chest wall, and the tube then leads to a sealed collection system. As the material drains out, the lung can re-expand. The tube is a drain: it does not deliver breaths, and it is not part of the airway.

Why It Exists: The Problem a Chest Tube Solves

Several conditions can cause material to build up around the lung. Air can enter the pleural space after an injury or because of a leak from the lung itself. Blood can collect after trauma or surgery. Fluid can accumulate because of infection or illness. In each case the lung gets squeezed and cannot fill as it should.

A chest tube solves this by giving the material a way out that is controlled and one-directional. The tube lets the trapped contents leave, while the drainage system prevents air from being drawn back in. Because it can stay in place for hours or days, it also lets clinicians monitor how much is draining and whether an air leak is continuing, which gives them information about how the lung is healing.

The Parts of a Chest Tube and Drainage System

The tube and its drainage system work as one assembly.

• The tube — a flexible, clear or translucent plastic tube with several small openings near the inner end. It often has length markings and a radiopaque stripe so it can be seen on an X-ray. Tubes come in a range of diameters, with larger ones used where thick fluid or blood must drain.
• Connecting tubing — the length of tubing that joins the chest tube to the drainage unit. Connections are secured so they do not separate.
• The collection chamber — a clear container that gathers the drained fluid and has graduated markings so the amount can be measured.
• The water-seal chamber or one-way valve — a feature that lets air leave the chest but stops it from flowing back in. Traditional units use a small column of water for this; many modern units use a dry one-way valve instead.
• The suction control — in many systems, a chamber or dial that lets a clinician apply a controlled amount of suction, or allows the system to work by gravity alone.
• Air-leak indicator — a visual cue, such as bubbling or a meter, that shows whether air is still escaping from the chest.
• Securement and dressing — stitches, tape and a sterile dressing that hold the tube in place and protect the entry site.

Who Uses a Chest Tube

Trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, thoracic and cardiac surgeons, critical care physicians and interventional radiologists place chest tubes. Nurses, respiratory therapists and critical care staff care for patients who have them, monitoring drainage and the equipment. Neonatal and pediatric teams use smaller sizes. Veterinarians use similar drains in animals, and some research settings use chest drains in animal surgical models. Placement is an invasive procedure performed by trained clinicians under sterile conditions and is not something for non-clinical staff to attempt or adjust.

Types of Chest Tubes and Drainage Systems

• Large-bore tubes — wider tubes used where thick fluid such as blood must drain, for example after trauma or heart and lung surgery.
• Small-bore or pigtail catheters — narrower, flexible drains, often with a curled tip that helps hold them in place. They are commonly used for air or thin fluid and are often placed with imaging guidance.
• Straight and angled tubes — tubes shaped to suit different placement routes and positions.
• Three-chamber drainage units — the traditional design, with separate collection, water-seal and suction-control chambers.
• Dry-seal units — units that use a mechanical valve in place of a water column, which can be easier to set up and less prone to spilling.
• Digital drainage systems — electronic units that measure air leak and drainage and display the information on a screen, which can reduce the need for subjective visual assessment.
• Portable and small-volume valves — compact one-way valve devices that allow some patients with an air leak to be managed with less bulky equipment.

Tubes and collection units are normally supplied sterile and intended for single patient use.

How a Chest Tube Differs from Related Devices

• Chest tube vs. endotracheal tube — an endotracheal tube sits in the windpipe and carries air to the lungs. A chest tube sits outside the lung, in the pleural space, and carries unwanted material away. They have different purposes and different placement sites.
• Chest tube vs. ventilator — a ventilator helps move air in and out of the lungs. A chest tube does not breathe for the patient; it clears the space so the lungs can expand. Some patients have both.
• Chest tube vs. suction canister — a suction canister is a collection container used with suction equipment in many settings. A chest drainage unit is a more specialised system that also controls air flow and prevents backflow into the chest.
• Chest tube vs. needle decompression — in an emergency, a needle may be used to release trapped air quickly as a temporary step. A chest tube is a longer-lasting, more complete solution.
• Chest tube vs. nasogastric or feeding tubes — those lead into the digestive tract and have no connection to the chest cavity.

How It Fits into Respiratory Care

A chest tube is one tool within the wider field of pulmonology and critical care. After surgery or injury, patients with chest drains are often encouraged to breathe deeply and cough, and tools such as an incentive spirometer may be used to support lung expansion. Chest X-rays are used to check the lung and the position of the tube, and the tube is removed when drainage has slowed and the lung stays expanded.

Practical Relevance for Research Administration and Procurement

For readers on the administrative or supply side, chest tubes and drainage systems raise a handful of recurring points.

• Range of sizes. Emergency and surgical areas usually stock several tube diameters, including pediatric sizes, along with matching accessories. The right assortment depends on the patient mix.
• System standardisation. Using one drainage-unit family across a hospital makes training easier and reduces connection mismatches. Mixed systems can create confusion.
• Dry versus water-seal. The choice affects setup time, training and the risk of spills. It also affects the cost per unit.
• Digital units. Electronic systems add cost and need charging, software support and service arrangements, in exchange for objective measurements and mobility.
• Biohazard handling. Collection units hold blood and other body fluids, so disposal follows regulated medical-waste procedures and adds to waste handling costs.
• Procedure kits. Many sites buy insertion trays that package the instruments, drapes and dressings together, which helps readiness but needs inventory control and expiry tracking.
• Simulation and training. Education programs use task trainers and models to teach placement and management, which are separate purchases from clinical stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chest tube used for?

It is used to drain air, blood or other fluid from the space around the lung so that the lung can expand and breathing can improve.

Is a chest tube the same as a breathing tube?

No. A breathing tube, such as an endotracheal tube, goes into the windpipe and carries air. A chest tube goes into the space around the lung and carries unwanted material out.

What is a chest drainage system?

It is the sealed collection unit attached to the tube. It collects drained fluid, allows air to leave, and prevents air from flowing back into the chest.

How long does a chest tube stay in?

This depends on why it was placed and how the patient is recovering. It is a clinical decision made by the treating team based on drainage, air leak and imaging.

What is a pigtail catheter?

It is a narrower, flexible chest drain with a curled tip that helps keep it in place. It is often used for air or thin fluid, whereas larger tubes are used where thick fluid or blood needs to drain.

Are chest tubes reusable?

Tubes and drainage units are generally sterile single-use products, disposed of according to medical-waste rules after use.