Indications for pleural drains

• Pneumothorax: tension pneumothorax (following emergency needle decompression), persistent or recurrent pneumothorax, large spontaneous pneumothorax, pneumothorax in any ventilated patient.
• Pleural effusion: malignant, para-pneumonic or other non-malignant causes e.g. liver failure.
• Traumatic haemothorax or pneumothorax.
• Empyema or pyothorax (the approach to management of a pleural drain for treatment of empyema may vary).
• Post-operative: thoracic, cardiac, oesophageal or spinal surgery.