Project Description:

Every year, approximately 100,000 chest tubes are placed in emergency departments through a procedure called thoracostomy. Currently, 1 in 5 of these placements result in complications. During thoracostomy, surgeons create a small incision between the 4th and 5th ribs to insert a chest tube, draining excess fluid or gas from the pleural cavity. This invasive procedure is typically performed while the patient is awake, relying heavily on the surgeon’s tactile skills with minimal external guidance. After insertion, a single suture is wrapped around the tube to secure it to the body, but this method often lacks stability, and complications frequently necessitate repeating the painful procedure.
Despite its frequent use, thoracostomy has experienced minimal innovation over the past 50 years. Motivated by this gap, our team collaborated with MUSC medical professionals to develop an advanced trocar—a hollow surgical insertion device—to enhance chest tube placement accuracy, surgeon ease, and patient comfort.
Our trocar design simplifies chest tube insertion by eliminating the need for surgeons to manually hold the incision open. It features an adjustable mechanism and a retractable internal ramp, providing surgeons with precise control over the insertion angle for optimal tube placement. Additionally, a preloaded silicone gasket securely anchors the chest tube against the body, significantly improving tube stability.
This innovative trocar aims to reduce complications, improve surgical outcomes, and enhance patient comfort by offering precise control and reliable securement during chest tube placement.