Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:11:06.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An unusual complication of chest tube thoracostomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Hugo Poncia
Affiliation:
Specialist registrar in Accident and Emergency Medicine
John M. Ryan*
Affiliation:
Consultant and senior lecturer in Accident and Emergency Medicine, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
*
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton UK BN2 5BE; [email protected]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This paper describes a previously unreported complication of chest tube thoracostomy: scalpel blade dislodgement within the pleural space. Techniques and complications of chest tube thoracostomy are then discussed.

Type
Case Reports • Observations
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2000

References

1.American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support, 6th ed. Chicago: The Association; 1997. p. 13354.Google Scholar
2.Britten, S, Palmer, SH, Snow, TM.Needle thoracocentesis in tension pneumothorax: insufficient cannula length and potential failure. Injury 1996;27:3212.Google Scholar
3.Britten, S, Palmer, SH.Chest wall thickness may limit adequate drainage of tension pneumothorax by needle thoracocentesis. J Accid Emerg Med 1996;13:4267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Millikan, JS, Moore, EE, Steiner, E, Aragon, GE, Van Way, CW.Complications of tube thoracostomy for acute trauma. Am J Surg 1980;140:73841.Google Scholar
5.Chan, L, Reilly, KM, Henderson, C, Kahn, F, Salluzzo, RF.Complication rates of tube thoracostomy. Am J Emerg Med 1997;15:36870.Google Scholar
6.Collop, NA, Kim, S, Sahn, SA.Analysis of tube thoracostomy performed by pulmonologists at a teaching hospital. Chest 1997;112:70913.Google Scholar
7.Daly, RC, Mucha, P, Pairolero, PC, Farnell, MB.The risk of percutaneous chest tube thoracostomy for blunt thoracic trauma. Ann Emerg Med 1985;14:86570.Google Scholar
8.Helling, TS, Gyles, NR, Eisenstein, CL, Soracco, CA.Complications following blunt and penetrating injuries in 216 victims of chest trauma requiring tube thoracostomy. J Trauma 1982; 29:136770.Google Scholar
9.Fraser, RS.Lung perforation complicating tube thoracostomy: pathologic description of three cases. Hum Pathol 1988;19:51823.Google Scholar
10.Salon, JE.Reversible diaphragmatic eventration following chest tube thoracostomy. Ann Emerg Med 1995;25:5568.Google Scholar
11.van Kralingen, KW.Complications of thoracostomy [letter, comment]. Chest 1991;100(3):8867.Google Scholar
12.Foresti, V, Villa, A, Casati, O, Parisio, E, De Filippi, G.Abdominal placement of tube thoracostomy due to lack of recognition of paralysis of hemidiaphragm. Chest 1992;102:2923.Google Scholar
13.Shapira, OM, Aldea, GS, Kupferschmid, J, Shemin, RJ.Delayed perforation of the oesophagus by a closed thoracostomy tube. Chest 1993;104:1897.Google Scholar
14.Kumer, S, Belik, J.Chylothorax: a complication of chest tube placement in a neonate. Crit Care Med 1984;12:4112.Google Scholar
15.Meisel, S, Ram, Z, Priel, I, Nass, D, Lieberman, P.Another complication of thoracostomy — perforation of the right atrium. Chest 1990;98(3):7723.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Campbell, P, Neil, T, Wake, PN.Horner’s syndrome caused by an intercostal drain. Thorax 1989;44:3056.Google Scholar
17.Iberti, TJ, Stern, PM.Chest tube thoracostomy. Crit Care Clin 1992; 8(4):87995.Google Scholar
18.Wilson, AJ, Krous, HF.Lung perforation during chest tube placement in the stiff lung syndrome. J Pediatr Surg 1974;9:2136.Google Scholar
19.Mainini, SE, Johnson, FE.Tension pneumothorax complicating small-calibre chest tube insertion. Chest 1990;97:75960.Google Scholar
20.Etoch, SW, Bar-Natan, MF, Miller, FB, Richardson, JD.Tube thoracostomy: factors related to complications. Arch Surg 1995;130(5):5215.Google Scholar