Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36802811›Full record

SynthesisThe American surgeon2023

Outcomes of Pigtail Catheter Placement versus Chest Tube Placement in Adult Thoracic Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

George Beeton, Micah Ngatuvai, Tessa Breeding, Ryan Andrade, Ruth Zagales, Areeba Khan, Radleigh Santos, Adel Elkbuli

Expression of concernAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The American surgeon, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It carries an expression of concern. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
8.6field-weighted citation impact, top 2% 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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Guideline
  3. Pneumothorax: Demographics, Treatment, and Nursing Care.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Modified Johannesburg technique sets the standard - superior biomechanical stability in chest tube fixation.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

George BeetonUniversity of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Micah NgatuvaiDr Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Tessa BreedingDr Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Ryan AndradeA.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mesa, AZ, USA.
Ruth ZagalesFlorida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Areeba KhanDepartment of Mathematics, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Radleigh SantosDepartment of Mathematics, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Adel ElkbuliDepartment of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL, USA.
Nova Southeastern University · USA.T. Still University · USFlorida International University · USOrlando Regional Medical Center · USUniversity of North Texas · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA debate currently exists regarding the efficacy of pigtail catheters vs chest tubes in the management of thoracic trauma. This meta-analysis aims to compare the outcomes of pigtail catheters vs chest tubes in adult trauma patients with thoracic injuries.

methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO. PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Ebsco, and ProQuest electronic databases were queried for studies comparing the use of pigtail catheters vs chest tubes in adult trauma patients from database inception to August 15th, 2022. The primary outcome was the failure rate of drainage tubes, defined as requiring a second tube placement or VATS, unresolved pneumothorax, hemothorax, or hemopneumothorax requiring additional intervention. Secondary outcomes were initial drainage output, ICU-LOS, and ventilator days.

resultsA total of 7 studies satisfied eligibility criteria and were assessed in the meta-analysis. The pigtail group had higher initial output volumes vs the chest tube group, with a mean difference of 114.7 mL [95% CI (70.6 mL, 158.8 mL)]. Patients in the chest tube group also had a higher risk of requiring VATS vs the pigtail group, with a relative risk of 2.77 [95% CI (1.50, 5.11)].

conclusionsIn trauma patients, pigtail catheters rather than chest tubes are associated with higher initial output volume, reduced risk of VATS, and shorter tube duration. Considering the similar rates of failure, ventilator days, and ICU length-of-stay, pigtail catheters should be considered in the management of traumatic thoracic injuries. STUDY TYPE: Systematic Review and meta-analysis.

Indexed as

PneumothoraxThoracic InjuriesAdultCathetersChest TubesDrainageHemothoraxHumansRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcomechest tubepigtail catheterthoracic traumatrauma outcomes

Identifiers

PMID36802811
OpenAlexW4321374934

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.