Thoracic drainage is used when there is air or fluid in the chest cavity next to or below the lung. This compresses your lung, making it smaller. This makes it harder for the patient to breathe. The air or fluid can then be removed from the chest cavity with chest drainage. The lung can then expand again.

This Divi uses an animation to explain what happens in the lungs when there is fluid or air in the chest cavity. It then explains how thoracic drainage works and the results of the treatment. The Divi further addresses the preparation and aftercare of chest drainage.