Suction versus water-seal chest tube management for traumatic hemothorax/hemopneumothorax

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• 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

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.