Relationship between Chest Wall Thicknesses at Chest Tube Insertion Point and Parts of The Body in Thai Male Population at Phramongkutklao Hospital

Abstract

Background: Intercostal Drainage (ICD) was used for drainage the collection in pleural cavity. To insert the chest tube in proper depth, the patient’s chest wall thickness (CWT) required by estimating manually during ICD insertion. However, this technique has limitation due to narrow rib spaces, Fracture rib, and Pleural adhesion causing finger insertion difficulty. If we could estimate the thickness by measuring external body part, we were able to insert ICD into a proper depth rapidly without complications. Objective: To discover relationship between CWT and body parts. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was used. Ages, height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), inter-nipple distance, little finger length and base width, thumb length and base width of 80 male patients were collected as well as the CWT at right fourth Intercostal space, anterior axillary line, measuring from Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) at Trauma wards, Phramongkutklao Hospital from January to July 2015. Results: Eighty male patients, average age of 66.97 years and average CWT of 2.21 cm were used for evaluation. There was statistically significant relationship between CWT and weight (r = 0.607*), BMI (r = 0.585*), inter-nipple distance (r = 0.349*), little finger base width (r = 0.336*) and thumb base width (r = 0.232*). These relationships were Pearson’s correlation. In general calculation of BMI is quite difficult, whereas Internipple distance is more easily measured. The equation relationship between CWT (y) and inter-nipple distance (x) was y = 0.133(x) - 0.445 Conclusion: Equation relationship between CWT and inter-nipple distance is used to predict CWT. As a result modified tape for measuring inter-nipple distance and CWT is made.