Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pleural diseases are common and often require drainage, with the growing use of small-bore chest drains (SBCDs) instead of larger tubes. This review aimed to examine the failure rate and complications associated with SBCD use in different pleural pathologies. METHODS: A literature search (PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar) was performed on the complications associated with SBCDs to treat pleural diseases. This review analyzed patient demographics, indications, outcomes, failure rate, and complications associated with the use of SBCDs. The systematic review was conducted using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included in this review with 4,973 patients. The indications for insertions of SBCDs were pleural effusion at 48.4%, pneumothorax at 30.1%, empyema or parapneumonic effusion at 11.4%, hemothorax at 6.5%, and other indications at 3.6%. The overall failure rate to achieve satisfactory drainage was 19.4%. Significant complications included iatrogenic pneumothorax at 11.9%, major hemorrhage at 1.0%, local bleeding at 0.7%, infection at 1.2%, and iatrogenic organ injury at 0.9%. Other insertional complications included tube dislodgement at 5.9%, tube blockage at 5.4%, tube kinking at 3.7%, misplacement at 3.3%, and subcutaneous hematoma at 0.5%. Most of the data published revolves around hemodynamically stable patients with SBCD insertions and is, thus, deficient regarding hemodynamically unstable patients. CONCLUSION: Despite carrying notable failure rates and complications, small-bore catheters remain an acceptable option for managing selected pleural diseases.