Suction versus water-seal chest tube management for traumatic hemothorax/hemopneumothorax
SUS-HPTX Trial: Suction vs Underwater Seal for HemoPneumoThoraX Trial
This trial will try whether starting chest tubes on suction or keeping them on a water seal helps adults with traumatic hemothorax or hemopneumothorax get their tubes out sooner and recover faster.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Trial ID | NCT07551791 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a single-center, randomized trial at a large trauma center comparing initial chest tube management with continuous negative-pressure suction versus water seal in adults with traumatic hemothorax or hemopneumothorax. Eligible patients are admitted to the trauma service and require tube thoracostomy; key exclusions include age under 18, pregnancy, incarceration, or chest tube placement prior to CT. Participants are randomized to one of the two standard-of-care drainage strategies and followed for chest tube duration, pleural-space complications, and hospital length of stay. The trial expands on prior work (the SEAL IT trial) by including patients with significant hemothorax who were previously excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults admitted to the trauma service with hemothorax or hemopneumothorax who require chest tube placement and meet the enrollment criteria are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are under 18, pregnant, incarcerated, or had a chest tube placed before CT (and other excluded patients) would not be eligible and therefore would not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could shorten chest tube duration and reduce hospital time and complications for patients with traumatic hemothorax or hemopneumothorax.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have been mixed, but the predecessor SEAL IT trial found that initial water seal shortened chest tube duration for traumatic pneumothorax without more complications, though that trial excluded patients with significant hemothorax.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Admitted to trauma service * Patient has hemothorax or hemopneumothorax requiring chest tube Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years old, pregnant, prisoner, chest tube placed prior to CT scan
Where this trial is running
Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, Tennessee, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kelsey Evans, MD
- Email: kelsey.evans@vumc.org
- Phone: 615-322-5000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.