Comparison of Chest Tube Wound Closure: Comparison Between Purse String Method and Plug Method.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Purse string suture closure, Plug method closure.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Pneumothorax, Hemothorax, Chest Tube, Chest Tube Removal. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Optimizing Chest Tube Removal: A Comparison of Purse-string Suture Closure and Plug Method.
Overview
This prospective, comparative clinical study evaluates two techniques of chest tube wound closure-purse-string suture and the simple suture/plug method-to determine differences in cosmetic outcomes, wound complications, and overall patient satisfaction following chest tube removal. The study aims to identify the closure technique that provides optimal wound healing with fewer postoperative complications.
Detailed description
Chest tube removal often results in small but cosmetically significant wounds. The traditional purse-string suture technique is widely used due to its presumed ability to ensure air-tight closure; however, it is frequently associated with circular or puckered scars that affect cosmetic appearance. Recently, the simple suture/plug method has been proposed as a more cosmetic alternative while maintaining adequate wound integrity.
This study prospectively enrolls patients requiring chest tube removal and allocates them to one of the two wound closure techniques. Standardized postoperative care is provided to all participants. The primary outcome is cosmetic appearance of the scar, evaluated using a validated scar assessment scale at follow-up. Secondary outcomes include wound infection, seroma or discharge, persistent air leak, wound dehiscence, time to healing, and patient satisfaction.
The findings are expected to help clinicians select the most effective and cosmetically favorable method for chest tube wound closure in routine surgical practice.
Interventions
- Procedure Purse string suture closure
PURSE STRING METHOD OF CLOSURE: A circumferential suture is placed around the chest tube insertion site before or after tube removal. The suture is tightened like a drawstring to approximate the skin edges and close the wound. This method provides an air-tight seal but often results in a puckered, circular scar. PLUG METHOD OF CLOSURE: After chest tube removal, the tract is allowed to collapse naturally and is gently plugged with a small gauze piece impregnated with petroleum jelly. - Procedure Plug method closure
An impregnable gauze which is made airtight by coating it in petroleum jelly is swiftly placed over the chest wound site as the chest tube is removed and an air tight dressing done.
Primary outcome measures
- "Incidence of air leak after chest tube removal using purse-string suture or plug method" [Time frame: 48 hours]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Incidence of wound infection after chest tube site closure using purse-string suture or plug method [Time frame: 7 Days]
- Scar appearance score at chest tube site measured using the Vancouver Scar Scale [Time frame: 1 month]
- Patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction score after chest tube site closure measured using a Numerical Rating Scale [Time frame: 1 month]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- All patients >18 years of age
- Patients undergoing chest tube insertion for traumatic causes including Pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemopneumothorax.
Exclusion criteria
- Previous ipsilateral thoracic surgery
- Patients with large wounds necessitating suture closure
- Patients with bleeding disorders
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Non-randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Pakistan Institute of medical sciences — Islamabad
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07319572 · F-5-2/2024(ERCC)/PIMS