Intercostal Drainage

Intercostal drainage (chest drain, thoracic catheter) is a procedure done to place a hollow, flexible drainage tube into the chest, for the removal of abnormally collected air, blood, or fluid between the inner and outer lining of the lung. Percutaneous pleural drainage is the third, most common therapeutic procedure after tracheal intubation and vascular catheterization used for the drainage of abnormal collection of air or fluid from the pleural space.