VATS ( Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy) Compared to Reinsertion of a Thoracostomy Tube for Persistent Haemothorax

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Haemothorax; Empyema

Treatments: Procedure: Thoracostomy Tube reinsertion; Procedure: VATS ( Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy )

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02014077

119/2013

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a prospective, randomized study comparing VATS( Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy ) to reinsertion of a Thoracostomy Tube in patients with retained haemothorax. The hypothesis is that early VATS as opposed to reinsertion of a thoracostomy tube , will lead to less complications and shorter hospital stay.

Enrollment: 62 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical and radiological diagnosis of retained haemothorax
• Thoracostomy tube blockage or failure to drain

Exclusion criteria

• more than one attempt at thoracostomy tube drainage
• unable to consent to trial
• coexisting pathology requiring other interventions

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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62 participants in 2 patient groups

Thoracostomy Tube

Active Comparator group

Description:

patients selected for thoracostomy tube reinsertion after failure of drainage with first thoracostomy tube for traumatic haemothorax

Treatment:

Procedure: Thoracostomy Tube reinsertion

VATS

Active Comparator group

Description:

patients selected for VATS after failure of first thoracostomy tube drainage of traumatic haemothorax will undergo a Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic clearance of the persistent/retained haemothorax

Treatment:

Procedure: VATS ( Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy )