Overview
If fluid, such as blood, or air, gets into the pleural space, the lung can collapse, preventing adequate air exchange. Chest tubes are used to treat conditions that can cause the lung to collapse, such as:
- Air leaks from the lung into the chest (pneumothorax)
- Bleeding into the chest (hemothorax)
- After surgery or trauma in the chest (pneumothorax or hemothorax)
- Lung abscesses or pus in the chest (empyema)
Review Date 8/5/2025
Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.