An operative member has a cylindrical catheter, an essentially cylindrical hub, an interior passageway and a roll out, open ended flutter valve. The valve has a fixed end secured to the hub and an extendable end. A needle has a stylet distal end and a proximal end formed with a gripping handle. The needle is adapted to be removably positioned within the interior passageway of the catheter and hub. The distance between the handle and the distal end of the needle is slightly greater than the length of the catheter and the hub. After providing the components set forth above, the present invention includes the step of inserting the catheter and needle into a pleural space of a patient and then withdrawing the needle thereby creating an air passageway through the catheter and the catheter and then unrolling the flutter valve from the hub.
