 Chest pleural drainage is a procedure performed to drain pneumothoracis or effusions from the intrathoracic space. Pre procedure, you undergo some routine blood tests. The doctor may ask you to stop certain medications a few days before the procedure. On the day of the procedure, you are administered local anesthesia and sedation as deemed appropriate, after which the doctor makes an incision to access the pleural area. The doctor then inserts a chest tube that drains the fluid through the incision side. Once the tube is in place, it is sutured and the incision is closed. Doctors often connect the chest tube to a container that holds the drained fluid. It is possible to hook the container up to a suction device to remove fluid or blood more effectively. Chest tubes are removed when they are no longer necessary. The entire procedure is of an hours duration. Post procedure, you may remain in the hospital overnight for observation and will be called for follow up visits.