Needle decompression is the first-line field intervention for suspected tension pneumothorax — but it is not definitive. When NDC fails to resolve respiratory distress, or when prolonged casualty care anticipates re-accumulation or hemothorax requiring drainage, the escalation is a chest tube.
What carries the full thoracostomy procedure in one grab-ready pouch?
This kit assembles the complete procedural set for chest tube thoracostomy at the point of injury or en route — skin prep, incision, blunt dissection, tube placement, one-way valve, and closure — in a single vacuum-sealed pouch that integrates into a crash cart, aid bag, or medical loadout without additional assembly. Choose the tube caliber your protocol specifies: the 36 FR (83-0007) is the standard field selection for adults needing maximum drainage capacity in hemothorax or large-volume pneumothorax, while the 28 FR (83-0039) serves protocols specifying a smaller caliber. Both share identical procedural components — only the soft chest tube size differs. CTT is a provider-scope skill — see the scope note below.
Provider scope: chest tube thoracostomy requires formal training, competency maintenance, and medical-director authorization. This kit requires a Medical Device Authorization for purchase and is intended for flight medics, critical-care paramedics, TCCC-qualified medics (18D, Corpsman, SF Medical Sergeant), emergency physicians, and other providers authorized by their state and agency to perform CTT. It is not a first-responder kit. Deploy only within your training, credentialing, and scope of practice.
Why This Kit
Complete Procedure In One Pouch
Prep through closure — no scrambling to assemble instruments from a general kit.
Two Caliber Options
28 FR or 36 FR soft tube — match the size to your protocol and patient.
One-Way Valve Included
A Heimlich-type valve manages pleural drainage without a bulky chest-drain system in the field.
Vacuum-Sealed & Compact
9.8 oz, easy-open pouch slots into a crash cart or aid bag and stays sterile until needed.
Size Options
| Caliber | SKU | Typical Selection |
|---|---|---|
| 28 FR soft tube | 83-0039 | Protocols specifying a smaller caliber |
| 36 FR soft tube | 83-0007 | Adult max drainage — hemothorax, large-volume pneumothorax |
Both kits contain the same instruments, valve, prep, and closure components — the soft chest tube caliber is the only difference. Select the size at checkout.
Kit Contents
| Qty | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chest tube, soft — 28 FR or 36 FR (per selected variant) |
| 1 | Chest tube valve (Heimlich-type one-way valve) |
| 1 | Protected #10 scalpel |
| 1 | Kelly curved hemostat — 5.5″ |
| 1 | Curved Roch-Pean, sterile — 8.5″ |
| 1 pr | Sterile surgical gloves |
| 1 | Petrolatum gauze — 3″ × 18″ |
| 1 | Gauze pad (2 pk) — 4″ × 4″ |
| 1 | ChloraPrep swabsticks, 3 per package |
| 1 | O-silk suture — 30″ |
Clinical Context
After failed NDC — decompression attempted without sustained improvement
Prolonged casualty care — re-accumulation anticipated over a long hold
Hemothorax drainage — sustained pleural management is required
Across The Thoracic Spectrum
From needle decompression up to definitive drainage.
The Kit, Up Close
When Needle Decompression Isn't Enough.
Genuine North American Rescue, shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.
Genuine North American Rescue
Sourced direct from North American Rescue.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue |
| SKU — 28 FR | 83-0039 |
| SKU — 36 FR | 83-0007 · NSN 6515-01-706-5310 |
| Tube Calibers | 28 FR or 36 FR soft tube |
| Packaged Dimensions | 12″ L × 7.5″ W |
| Weight | 9.8 oz |
| Packaging | Vacuum-sealed pouch, easy-open |
| Authorization | Medical Device Authorization required for purchase |
| Intended Use | Emergency chest tube thoracostomy by trained providers |
When to Deploy the Chest Tube Insertion Kit
What's Included (NAR SKU: 83-0007 (36FR); 83-0039 (28FR)):
- 1 × Petrolatum Gauze Strip 3 in. × 18 in.
- 1 × #10 Protected Scalpel
- 1 × Kelly Hemostat (5.5 in., curved)
- 1 × Sterile Latex Exam Gloves (pairs included)
- 1 × One-Way Chest Tube Valve (flutter valve)
- 1 × Chest Tube (28FR or 36FR per SKU)
- 3 × ChloraPrep One-Step Applicator
- 2 × Gauze Pad 4 in. × 4 in.
- 1 × O-Silk Suture w/ Needle
- 1 × Curved Rochester-Pean Forceps
- Tension Pneumothorax Progressing After Needle Decompression: When needle thoracostomy or finger thoracostomy provides temporary relief but tension recurs, the chest tube provides definitive decompression for extended field care or prolonged transport.
- Hemothorax Evacuation: Penetrating or blunt chest trauma with significant hemothorax requires tube thoracostomy to drain accumulated blood, restore ventilation, and allow monitoring of ongoing bleeding — needle decompression cannot drain blood.
- Extended Field Care (EFC) and TACEVAC: 68WM medics, PJs, and flight medics with standing orders for thoracic procedures use the chest tube kit during prolonged CASEVAC when evacuation is delayed beyond the scope of needle decompression.
- Austere and Remote Emergency Medicine: Expedition physicians, diving medical officers, and remote area practitioners carry the kit for definitive chest intervention where hospital resources are unavailable for hours.
- Combat Support Hospital (CSH) Forward Staging: Forward surgical teams pre-position chest tube kits as part of immediate resuscitation tray setups — the self-contained kit eliminates assembly time in mass-casualty scenarios.
- Advanced EMS Chest Trauma Response: Critical care paramedics and flight nurses authorized for chest tube placement use the NAR kit as a compact, pre-assembled alternative to hospital-derived open trays.
Field Tip: Best practice: chest tube insertion is a credentialed procedure requiring medical direction. Select 28FR (83-0039) for most trauma drainage indications; reserve 36FR (83-0007, NSN 6515-01-706-5310) for high-volume hemothorax. Confirm insertion with auscultation and tube fogging before securing.
How the Chest Tube Insertion Kit Compares
Chest Tube vs. Needle Decompression (ARS®): The ARS® 14G Needle Decompression Kit is the CoTCCC-recommended first-line intervention for tension pneumothorax at the TCCC level. The chest tube is a definitive thoracic intervention requiring advanced training and medical direction — used when needle decompression is inadequate or when hemothorax evacuation is required.
28FR vs. 36FR: The 28FR tube (83-0039) is adequate for most pneumothorax and moderate hemothorax indications and reduces patient discomfort. The 36FR (83-0007) is preferred for high-volume hemothorax where clot passage is a concern. Select based on injury mechanism and clinical indication; both are available at tactical-medicine.com.
NAR Kit vs. Improvised Hospital Tray: Hospital chest tube trays contain 15–25 components requiring setup time and sterile field preparation. The NAR kit pre-stages the essential components in procedural order within a compact pouch — reducing setup time and component-hunting in a high-stress thoracic emergency.
See the full advanced airway and thoracic supply collection for complete chest trauma capability.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chest Tube Insertion Kit
Q: What training is required to insert a chest tube?
A: Chest tube insertion is a credentialed advanced procedure. In military medicine, 68WM Special Forces medics and PJs with extended trauma training are authorized with appropriate medical oversight. In civilian EMS, critical care paramedics and flight providers with protocol authorization perform the procedure. Always confirm scope of practice and medical director authorization before carrying this kit.
Q: What is the NSN for the 36FR Chest Tube Insertion Kit?
A: The 36FR Chest Tube Insertion Kit (NAR SKU 83-0007) carries NSN 6515-01-706-5310 for government procurement through DLA. Contact MED-TAC International for current contract vehicle availability.
Q: Is the flutter valve included a one-way valve?
A: Yes. The chest tube valve included in the NAR kit is a one-way flutter-type valve that allows air and fluid to exit the pleural space while preventing backflow — providing tension pneumothorax prevention during transport without requiring a water seal drainage system.
Q: Can this kit be used for emergency needle decompression?
A: No. This kit is specifically designed for open chest tube thoracostomy. For needle decompression (tension pneumothorax at TCCC level), use the CoTCCC-recommended ARS® 14G Needle Decompression Kit (NAR SKU 30-0012), which is separately available at tactical-medicine.com.
Q: How does the ChloraPrep preparation compare to Betadine for field use?
A: ChloraPrep (chlorhexidine gluconate/isopropyl alcohol) provides rapid broad-spectrum skin antisepsis with persistent antimicrobial activity and is preferred over povidone-iodine (Betadine) in current surgical guidelines. The one-step applicator allows single-handed skin prep in the field without a separate basin.
Related searches: NAR chest tube insertion kit, chest tube thoracostomy kit, CTT kit, 28 FR chest tube, 36 FR chest tube, field thoracostomy, North American Rescue 83-0007, North American Rescue 83-0039
All products sourced direct from North American Rescue. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
Available Options:
- 28 FR
- 36 FR
Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
