To chest drain or not to chest drain (haemothorax)

Report By: JM Sherigar - SpR General Surgery
Institution: Causeway Hospital, Londonderry
Current web editor: Richard Body - Clinical Research Fellow
Date Submitted: 15th August 2001
Last Modified: 9th March 2006
Status: Red (incomplete)

Three Part Question

In a [prehospital patient suffering major chest trauma suggestive of haemothorax] is [insertion of a chest drain better than not inserting a chest drain] for [reduction of mortality]?