The North American Rescue Chest Tube Insertion Kit provides all equipment necessary to perform emergency chest tube thoracostomy (CTT) in a single, compact, vacuum-sealed package. Available in 28 French or 36 French chest tube sizes, it is the definitive thoracic intervention kit for prehospital ALS providers, flight medics, and forward surgical teams managing penetrating thoracic trauma when needle decompression has been insufficient or when evacuation time exceeds 45 minutes.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue (NAR) |
| SKU — 36 FR | 83-0007 | NSN 6515-01-706-5310 |
| SKU — 28 FR | 83-0039 |
| Chest Tube Sizes Available | 28 French (Soft) | 36 French (Soft) |
| Packaged Dimensions | L 12 in. × W 7.5 in. |
| Weight | 9.8 oz |
| Packaging | Vacuum-sealed pouch; easy-open design |
| Intended Use | Emergency chest tube thoracostomy (CTT) by trained providers |
| Medical Device Authorization | Requires Medical Device Authorization for purchase |
Kit Contents
| Qty | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chest Tube, Soft — 28 FR or 36 FR (per variant) |
| 1 | Chest Tube Valve (Heimlich-type one-way valve) |
| 1 | Protected #10 Scalpel |
| 1 | Kelly Curved Hemostat — 5.5 in. |
| 1 | Curved Roch-Peon, Sterile — 8.5 in. |
| 1 pr | Sterile Surgical Latex Gloves |
| 1 | Petrolatum Gauze — 3 in. × 18 in. |
| 1 | Gauze Pad (2 pk) — 4 in. × 4 in. |
| 1 | Chloraprep Swabsticks, 3 per package |
| 1 | O-Silk Suture — 30 in. |
Product Overview
Needle chest decompression is the first-line TCCC intervention for suspected tension pneumothorax, but it is not definitive. In combat or prehospital settings, when two needle decompression attempts have failed to resolve the patient's respiratory distress, or when the casualty evacuation time to the next echelon of care is expected to exceed 45 minutes following successful NDC, TCCC guidelines identify chest tube thoracostomy (CTT) and simple (finger) thoracostomy as escalation options for providers with the requisite training, skills, and authorizations.
The NAR Chest Tube Insertion Kit provides the complete procedural equipment necessary to perform CTT at the point of injury or en route. Every item required for the procedure — from skin prep and incision through tube placement, valve attachment, and wound closure — is included in a single vacuum-sealed pouch that integrates into a crash cart, aid bag, or medical loadout without additional assembly.
Available in 28 French and 36 French soft chest tube sizes. The 36 FR tube (83-0007, NSN 6515-01-706-5310) is the standard field selection for adult patients requiring maximum drainage capacity in hemothorax or large-volume pneumothorax. The 28 FR tube (83-0039) provides a smaller-caliber option for providers whose protocols specify the smaller size or for patients with less severe presentations. Both kits contain identical procedural components — only the chest tube diameter differs.
Authorized Users and Clinical Context
Chest tube thoracostomy requires formal training, competency maintenance, and medical director authorization. This kit is designed for use by flight medics, critical care paramedics (CCEMTs), TCCC-qualified medics (18D, Corpsman, Special Forces Medical Sergeant), emergency physicians, and other providers authorized by their state and agency medical oversight to perform CTT. It is not intended as a first-responder kit.
Per TCCC guidelines, chest tube placement should be considered when: (1) needle decompression has been attempted twice without clinical improvement, (2) extended field care (EFC) or prolonged casualty care (PCC) conditions exist and re-accumulation of pneumothorax is anticipated, or (3) hemothorax requiring drainage is identified. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) data documents that approximately 83% of patients receiving needle decompression show clinical improvement, but definitive tube thoracostomy remains the gold standard for sustained pleural management.
For needle-level thoracic decompression, see the NAR ARS® and SPEAR® needle decompression devices. For the procedural step between needle decompression and chest tube, see the NAR Simple Thoracostomy Kit. Browse the complete Chest & Thoracic Supplies collection for the full spectrum of thoracic trauma management.
All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
