Pleural drainage appears associated with survival. Most inhalation anthrax patients develop bilateral collections, and may require chest-tube insertions. Surgical source control is associated with survival for anthrax-associated peritonitis. Following a wide-area release of Bacillus anthracis, public health authorities should anticipate many patients may require source control (e.g., chest tube drainage or surgery) and plan accordingly.
Holty et al. (Thu,) studied this question.