After the Procedure:

Most people completely recover from the chest tube insertion and removal. There is only a small scar.

Outlook (Prognosis):

You will stay in the hospital until the chest tube is removed. While the chest tube is in place, the nursing staff will carefully check for possible air leaks, breathing difficulties, and the need for oxygen. You'll need to breathe deeply and cough often to help re-expand the lung, help with drainage, and prevent fluids from collecting in the lungs.

Chest x-rays are done often while a chest tube is in place to make sure that all of the air, blood, and other fluids are being removed.