Indications and relative frequencies for diseases requiring closed tube thoracostomy in medical patients

To determine the indications and relative frequencies for diseases requiring closed tube thoracostomy in medical patients. To determine the frequency of tuberculosis as a causative factor for different indications and the time required for the chest tube to be withdrawn in different diseases. To compare the male: female ratio and also the ratio of right and left side pleural involvement requiring closed tube thoracostomy. Study Design: Descriptive study on 70 patients. Settings: Medical units 1, 2 and 3 of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. Subjects: All patients of both sexes between the age groups of 13 years to 75 years have been included in the study. The Study was done on 70 patients. The frequency of male: female ratio was 37 [52.9%] and 33 [47.1%] respectively. The commonest indication for closed tube thoracostomy was pneumothorax which occurred in 29 [41.4%] patients and the least common was parapneumonic effusion [PNE] affecting 5[7.1%] patients. Tuberculosis [TB] was the single most prevalent etiological factor and occurred in 29 [41.4%] patients. It also required the longest duration for tube placement - average 49.28 +/- 4.70 days. Pleural involvement for right or left side was 36 [51.4%] and 34 [48.6%] respectively. Our study demonstrated that pneumothorax was the commonest disease, requiring closed tube thoracostomy. The most common etiological factor was tuberculosis and patients with tuberculosis also required longest duration of time for chest tube placement