Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29942877›Full record

ArticleTurkish journal of emergency medicine2018

Use of the iTClamp versus standard suturing techniques for securing chest tubes: A randomized controlled cadaver study.

Jessica Mckee, Ian Mckee, Melanie Bouclin, Chad G Ball, Paul McBeth, Derek J Roberts, Ian Atkinson, Dennis Filips, Andrew W Kirkpatrick

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Turkish journal of emergency medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. What is the best way to secure a chest drain? A scoping review.Journal of the Intensive Care Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Timings of pre-hospital life-saving interventions in mass casualty incidents: an observational simulation study.Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 2025
    Observational
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Jessica MckeeRegional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Ian MckeeCity of Edmonton, Fire Department, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Melanie BouclinNorth Edmonton Veterinary Emergency, Emergency Department, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Chad G BallRegional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Paul McBethRegional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Derek J RobertsDepartment of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Ian AtkinsonInnovative Trauma Care, Clinical Department, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Dennis FilipsInnovative Trauma Care, Clinical Department, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Andrew W KirkpatrickRegional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Alberta Health Services · CACARE Canada · CAUniversity of Calgary · CAAlberta Hospital Edmonton · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTube thoracostomy (TT) is a common yet potentially life-saving trauma procedure. After successful placement however, securing a TT through suturing is a skillset that requires practice, risking that the TT may become dislodged during prehospital transport. The purpose of this study was to examine if the iTClamp was a simpler technique with equivalent effectiveness for securing TTs. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn a cadaver model, a 1.5 inch incision was utilized along the upper border of the rib below the 5th intercostal space at the anterior axillary line. TTs (sizes 28Fr, 32Fr, 36Fr and 40Fr) were inserted and secured with both suturing and iTClamp techniques according to the preset randomization. TT were then functionally tested for positive and negative pressure as well as the force required to remove the TT (pull test-up to 5 lbs). Time to secure the TT was also recorded.

resultsWhen sutured is placed by a trained surgeon, the sutures and iTClamp were functionally equivalent for holding a positive and negative pressure. Mean pull force for both sutures and iTClamp exceeded the 5 lb threshold; there was no significant difference between the groups. Securing the TT with the iTClamp was significantly faster (p < 0.0001) with the iTClamp having a mean application time of 37.0 ± 22.8 s and using a suture had a man application time of 96.3 ± 29.0 s.

conclusionThe iTClamp was effective in securing TTs. The main benefit to the iTClamp is that minimal skill is required to adequately secure a TT to ensure that it does not become dislodged during transport to a trauma center.

Indexed as

Chest tubeSecuring chest tubesTube thoracostomy

Identifiers

PMID29942877
PMCPMC6009806
OpenAlexW2793060591

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.