STANDARDIZED CHEST TUBE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES COMPLICATIONS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Introduction: Trauma is the primary cause of morbidity and death around the world, and chest injuries account for a large portion of these cases. In Pakistan, the high prevalence of trauma-related chest injuries necessitates effective management to reduce complications such as infections, tube dislodgement, and pneumothorax. The lack of standardized chest tube management protocols has contributed to inconsistent patient outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a standardized protocol for chest tube management on complication rates in trauma patients across major hospitals in Pakistan.

Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 60 trauma patients requiring chest tube insertion, divided equally into pre-protocol and post-protocol groups. The standardized protocol included guidelines on chest tube insertion, maintenance, monitoring, and removal. Data on patient demographics, trauma characteristics, and complications were collected over 12 months. Using chi-square tests for categorical data and t-tests for continuous variables, statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS.

Results: The pre-protocol group's mean age was 35.2 ± 10.5 years, while the post-protocol group's mean age was 34.8 ± 9.8 years (p = 0.88). From 25% in the pre-protocol group to 10% in the post-protocol group, the overall complication rate dropped dramatically (p < 0.01). Tube dislodgement decreased from 10% to 3% (p < 0.05), and infection rates fell from 15% to 5% (p < 0.05). The average duration of hospitalization decreased to 8.6 ± 2.5 days from 12.4 ± 3.2 days (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Implementing a standardized chest tube management protocol significantly reduced complications, shortened hospital stays, and improved patient outcomes. Further research with larger samples and extended follow-up is recommended to validate these findings.