Complications of needle thoracostomy: A comprehensive clinical review

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Needle thoracostomy (NT) is a valuable adjunct in the management of tension pneumothorax (tPTX), a life-threatening condition encountered mainly in trauma and critical care environments. Most commonly, needle thoracostomies are used in the prehospital setting and during acute trauma resuscitation to temporize the affected individuals prior to the placement of definitive tube thoracostomy (TT). Because it is both an invasive and emergent maneuver, NT can be associated with a number of potential complications, some of which may be life-threatening. Due to relatively common use of this procedure, it is important that healthcare providers are familiar, and ready to deal with, potential complications of NT.

Related collections

Most cited references 80

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Tension pneumothorax--time for a re-think?

Simon Smith, Richard Harris (2004)

This review examines the present understanding of tension pneumothorax and produces recommendations for improving the diagnostic and treatment decision process.

0 comments Cited 48 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Thoracostomy tubes: A comprehensive review of complications and related topics

Michael Kwiatt, Abigail Tarbox, Mark Seamon … (2014)

Tube thoracostomy (TT) placement belongs among the most commonly performed procedures. Despite many benefits of TT drainage, potential for significant morbidity and mortality exists. Abdominal or thoracic injury, fistula formation and vascular trauma are among the most serious, but more common complications such as recurrent pneumothorax, insertion site infection and nonfunctioning or malpositioned TT also represent a significant source of morbidity and treatment cost. Awareness of potential complications and familiarity with associated preventive, diagnostic and treatment strategies are fundamental to satisfactory patient outcomes. This review focuses on chest tube complications and related topics, with emphasis on prevention and problem-oriented approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The authors hope that this manuscript will serve as a valuable foundation for those who wish to become adept at the management of chest tubes.

0 comments Cited 43 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Pleural decompression and drainage during trauma reception and resuscitation.

S Marasco, T Kossmann, Tippi MacKenzie … (2007)

This review examines pleural decompression and drainage during initial hospital adult trauma reception and resuscitation, when it is indicated for haemodynamically unstable patients with signs of pneumothorax or haemothorax. The relevant historical background, techniques, complications and current controversies are highlighted. Key findings of this review are that: 1. Needle thoracocentesis is an unreliable means of decompressing the chest of an unstable patient and should only be used as a technique of last resort. 2. Blunt dissection and digital decompression through the pleura is the essential first step for pleural decompression, as decompression of the pleural space is a primary goal during reception of the haemodynamically unstable patient with a haemothorax or pneumothorax. Drainage and insertion of a chest tube is a secondary priority. 3. Techniques to prevent tube thoracostomy (TT) complications include aseptic technique, avoidance of trocars, digital exploration of the insertion site and guidance of the tube posteriorly and superiorly during insertion. 4. Whenever possible, blunt thoracic trauma patients should undergo definitive CT imaging after TT to check for appropriate tube position.

0 comments Cited 28 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci

Journal ID (publisher-id): IJCIIS

Title: International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science

Publisher: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd (India )

ISSN (Print): 2229-5151

ISSN (Electronic): 2231-5004

Publication date (Print): Jul-Sep 2015

Volume: 5

Issue: 3

Pages: 160-169

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Surgery, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States

[2 ]Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States

[3 ]Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States

[4 ]Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, United States

[5 ]Department of Research and Innovation, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States

[6 ]Cardiothoracic Surgery, Summa Health System and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Akron, Ohio, United States

Author notes

Address for correspondence: Prof. Stanislaw P. Stawicki, Department of Research and Innovation, St. Luke's University Health Network, NW2-Administration, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015 USA. E-mail: stanislaw.stawicki@ 123456sluhn.org

Article

Publisher ID: IJCIIS-5-160

DOI: 10.4103/2229-5151.164939

PMC ID: 4613415

PubMed ID: 26557486

SO-VID: 10da0724-b206-482d-957e-182be80340dd

License:

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms

Complications of needle thoracostomy: A comprehensive clinical review

Read this article at

Abstract

Related collections

Irish Journal of Paramedicine

Most cited references 80

Tension pneumothorax--time for a re-think?

Thoracostomy tubes: A comprehensive review of complications and related topics

Pleural decompression and drainage during trauma reception and resuscitation.

Author and article information

Journal

Affiliations

Author notes

Article

History

Categories

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 564

Cited by 15

Most referenced authors 443