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International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
05:50

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure

Published on: March 12, 2020

Pleural reaction to thoracotomy tube

V Gilsanz, R H Cleveland

    Chest
    |August 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    Transitory pleural thickening after chest tube removal is common in children. This finding on chest x-rays can be mistaken for serious conditions, but it is a normal reaction.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Radiology
    • Thoracic Surgery
    • Pulmonology

    Background:

    • Chest tubes are frequently used in pediatric patients for various thoracic conditions.
    • Post-procedural pleural changes can occur after chest tube insertion and removal.
    • Radiographic interpretation requires distinguishing normal findings from pathology.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the incidence and radiographic appearance of transitory pleural thickening following chest tube removal in children.
    • To differentiate this benign finding from more severe pleural and pulmonary abnormalities.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective review of chest x-rays in 60 pediatric patients treated with chest tubes.
    • Radiographic assessment for pleural thickening up to ten days after tube removal.
    • Correlation of imaging findings with clinical outcomes.

    Main Results:

    • Nine out of 60 children (15%) exhibited localized pleural thickening on post-removal chest x-rays.
    • These pleural changes were observed up to ten days after chest tube removal.
    • The findings were consistent with a local pleural reaction, not indicative of complications.

    Conclusions:

    • Transitory pleural thickening is a common, benign radiographic finding after chest tube removal in children.
    • Awareness of this finding can prevent misdiagnosis of serious pleural or pulmonary disease.
    • Radiologists and clinicians should consider this transient reaction in pediatric post-thoracotomy tube imaging.

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