Small caliber 14-Fr PCs are equally as effective as 28- to 32-Fr chest tubes in their ability to drain traumatic HTX with no difference in complications.

Patients reported better IPE scores with PCs over chest tubes, suggesting that PCs are better tolerated.

After exclusion, 119 patients participated in the trial, 56 randomized to PCs and 63 to chest tubes.

Baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar.

The primary outcome, failure rate, was similar between the two groups.

All other secondary outcomes were also similar, except PC patients reported lower IPE scores than chest tube patients.

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