What is the purpose of a thoracostomy?

The purpose of a thoracostomy is primarily to insert a chest tube. This procedure creates an opening in the chest wall to allow for the drainage of air, blood, or fluid that has accumulated in the pleural space. This accumulation can occur due to various conditions, such as pneumothorax (air in the pleural space), hemothorax (blood in the pleural space), or pleural effusion (fluid buildup). The insertion of a chest tube helps to re-establish negative pressure in the pleural cavity, which is essential for proper lung expansion and function.

Other options, while related to thoracic issues, serve different purposes. Performing a lung biopsy is a diagnostic procedure to obtain samples of lung tissue, and it does not involve the same techniques as a thoracostomy. Repairing a ruptured diaphragm is a surgical intervention that is typically performed through different approaches. Similarly, surgically removing part of the lung, known as a lobectomy or pneumonectomy, involves entirely different surgical techniques and is not what a thoracostomy aims to achieve. Thus, inserting a chest tube stands out as the primary indication for a thoracostomy in clinical practice.