[A chest tube can be inserted safely utilizing standard technique. Minithoracotomy should not be performed routinely]

The National Swedish Board of Health and Welfare has concluded that a minithoracotomy should be used for the insertion of a chest tube. Our opinion is that a less than 2 cm skin incision followed by blunt dissection through the chest wall is equally safe provided that the anatomical landmarks of the safe triangle are identified and the lung is not adherent to the chest wall. A prerequisite for safe treatment is an examination of the chest x-ray, supervision of chest tube function and the patient. Chest tube malfunction or complications should be managed urgently.