TY - JOUR T1 - Penetrating injuries of the pleural cavity. JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 789 LP - 793 DO - 10.1136/thx.39.10.789 VL - 39 IS - 10 AU - D J Muckart AU - F M Luvuno AU - L W Baker Y1 - 1984/10/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/39/10/789.abstract N2 - Two hundred and fifty one cases of penetrating wounds of the chest were studied prospectively. Clinical evidence is presented to show that: basal intercostal drains are adequate to remove both air and fluid from within the pleural cavity; frequent chest radiographs are unnecessary and intercostal drains may be removed on clinical grounds alone; long term antibiotic prophylaxis is unnecessary; eight per cent of those undergoing initial observation will develop a delayed haemothorax or pneumothorax of sufficient size to require drainage; subcutaneous emphysema is of no prognostic significance in the symptomless patient with minimal intrapleural damage on admission; and outpatient follow up is not required. ER -