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PubMed1995

AIDS-related spontaneous pneumothorax. Risk factors and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To define risk factors and optimum therapy for AIDS-related spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX). DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Thirty-five patients with AIDS who developed spontaneous PTX between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1991, of whom 27 (77.1%) did so in the setting of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Forty-one patients who were diagnosed as having PCP and did not develop PTX served as the control group. RESULTS: Using logistic regression, a history of cigarette smoking, aerosolized pentamidine treatment, and the observation of pneumatoceles by chest radiography were associated with an increased risk of PTX. Although not associated with an increased risk of occurrence of PTX, the use of systemic corticosteroids for PCP treatment was associated with a longer requirement for chest tube drainage. Although chest tube drainage alone was often successful, chemical and surgical pleurodesis was often effective in treating prolonged air leaks and was associated with a lower incidence of recurrent PTX, although this difference did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Patients at high risk of developing AIDS-related spontaneous PTX can be identified. Systemic corticosteroids may increase the risk of morbidity from AIDS-related PTX. Chemical and surgical pleurodesis may be of value in short-term treatment and in reducing the risk of recurrence.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2005

Efficacy of manual aspiration immediately after complicated pneumothorax in CT-guided lung biopsy.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of simple aspiration of air from the pleural space to prevent increased pneumothorax and avoid chest tube placement in cases of pneumothorax after computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on experience with 283 consecutive percutaneous needle lung biopsies with real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance. While patients were on the CT scanner table, percutaneous manual aspiration was performed in all those with moderate or large pneumothorax demonstrated on postbiopsy chest CT images regardless of symptoms. The authors evaluated the frequency of biopsy-induced pneumothorax, management of each such case, and factors that influenced the incidence of worsening pneumothorax that required chest tube placement despite manual aspiration. RESULTS: Of the 104 (36.7%) pneumothoraces occurring after 283 biopsy procedures, 52 were treated with manual aspiration immediately after biopsy. In 95 of the 104 pneumothoraces (91.3%), the pneumothorax had resolved completely on follow-up chest radiographs without chest tube placement. Only nine patients (3.2% of the entire series; 8.7% of those who developed pneumothorax) required chest tube placement. Requirement of chest tube insertion significantly increased parallel to the increased volume of aspirated air. The optimal cutoff level of aspirated air on which to base a decision to abandon manual aspiration alone and resort to chest tube placement was 543 mL. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous manual aspiration of biopsy-induced pneumothorax performed immediately after biopsy may prevent progressive pneumothorax and eliminate the need for chest tube placement. However, in cases in which the amount of aspirated air is large (such as more than 543 mL in this study), the possibility of required chest tube placement increases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Introducer insertion of mini-thoracostomy tubes.

Introducer insertion of a small caliber chest tube is easily mastered, fast, and nearly painless. Outpatient management of spontaneous pneumothorax with a 12 F. polyvinylchloride catheter and a Heimlich valve appears both safe and economical in a selected group of patients. Introducer chest tube insertion is well tolerated, in contrast to the discomfort experienced during insertion of chest tubes by means of blunt dissection or trocar. In addition, the high risk of injury to the lung or other viscera by trocars is avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis for chylothorax due to lymphoma: a case series.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Recurrent chylothorax as a complication of lymphoma has had unsatisfactory outcomes. Serial thoracentesis, tube thoracostomy, and pleurodesis via chest tube have been ineffective and compromise the nutritional and immune status of the patient. Medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis has been safe and effective in the treatment of some other varieties of recurrent pleural effusions. Our objective was to investigate the safety and efficacy of medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis in the palliation of chylothorax related to lymphoma. DESIGN: This is a report of 24 hemithoraces treated in 19 consecutive patients with lymphoma-related chylothorax, failing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The average patient age was 55 years. INTERVENTIONS: Medical thoracoscopy was performed under local anesthesia and conscious sedation in a bronchoscopy suite. Sedation included midazolam (mean dose, 6 mg; range, 2-14 mg) with either meperidine (mean dose, 94 mg; range 25-140 mg), or morphine (mean dose, 18 mg; range 4-40 mg). Pleurodesis was performed with insufflation of sterile asbestos-free talc, (4-8 g). After pleurodesis, chest tubes were placed, with the mean duration of chest tube placement being 4 days, range 3 to 10 days. RESULTS: One patient died a few days after the procedure due to causes related to the primary disease process. Follow-up was for at least 90 days following the procedure. Patients were assessed at 30, 60, and 90 days following the procedure. At each of these endpoints, all patients remaining alive were without recurrence of pleural effusions, which was confirmed by chest radiography. Eight patients in the series died of the effects of their malignancy during the 90-day evaluation interval. Complications included medication reactions in two patients (8.3%) and ARDS in one patient (4.1%). CONCLUSION: Many patients with lymphoma-related chylothorax are refractory to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. In this group, medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis has an acceptable complication rate and a 100% success rate in the prevention of recurrence of pleural effusions at 30, 60, and 90 days following the procedure.

Chylothorax↗
PubMed2006

Incidence and management of pleural effusions after diaphragm peritonectomy or resection for advanced mullerian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Diaphragm peritonectomy or resection is an effective way to cytoreduce diaphragm disease but frequently results in sympathetic pleural effusions. Our objective was to determine the incidence and management of effusions that developed after diaphragm surgery in patients with advanced mullerian cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients with stage IIIC-IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer who had diaphragm peritonectomy or resection as part of optimal primary cytoreduction at our institution from 2000-2003. All patients had preoperative and serial postoperative chest X-rays to detect and follow pleural effusions. Factors evaluated included the presence and size of preoperative and postoperative effusions, their laterality, and subsequent need for thoracentesis and/or chest tube placement for symptomatic effusions. RESULTS: Of the 215 patients who had primary cytoreduction during the study period, 59 (27%) underwent diaphragm peritonectomy or resection. In addition to standard cytoreduction, 31 (53%) of these 59 patients had diaphragm surgery alone, while 28 (47%) had diaphragm surgery in combination with other upper abdominal resections. Laterality of diaphragm surgery was as follows: right only, 43 (73%); left only, 2 (3%); and bilateral, 14 (24%). Intraoperative chest tubes were placed in 7 (12%) patients. In the remaining 12 patients with preoperative effusions, postoperative effusions on the same side as the diaphragm surgery increased in 6 patients (50%), and 3 patients (25%) required postoperative thoracentesis or chest tube. In the remaining 40 patients without preoperative effusions, ipsilateral effusions developed in 24 patients (60%), and 5 patients (13%) required postoperative chest tubes. The overall rate of new or increased ipsilateral effusions was 58%; the overall rate of postoperative thoracentesis or chest tube placement was 15%. In 75% of the patients, thoracentesis or chest tubes were placed within 5 days of surgery (median, 3 days; range, 2-24). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of patients developed ipsilateral pleural effusions after diaphragm peritonectomy for cytoreduction. Most were managed conservatively without requiring a chest tube or thoracentesis. The incidence of symptomatic effusions was not high enough to recommend routine chest tube placement at the time of diaphragm peritonectomy or resection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Optimization of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation for the treatment of experimental pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of frequency, amplitude, inspiratory time, and mean airway pressure on gas flow through a chest tube in an animal model of pneumothorax treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Animal laboratory. SUBJECTS: Neonatal piglets (n = 12). INTERVENTIONS: After saline lavage, a model of experimental pneumothorax was created by selective right mainstem intubation and manual ventilation at high-peak inspiratory pressure. A chest tube was placed, and gas flow through the chest tube was measured with a pneumotachometer during HFOV with the SensorMedics 3100A. The effects of frequency, inspiratory time, amplitude, and mean airway pressure on chest tube gas flow were determined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gas flow through the chest tube was significantly higher (p <.001) at 5 Hz (601 +/- 23 mL/min) than at 10 Hz (464 +/- 64 mL/min) or 15 Hz (400 +/- 11 mL/min), while mean airway pressure, inspiratory time, and PaCO2 were kept constant. Gas flow was higher at an inspiratory time of 50% compared with one of 30% (645 +/- 49 vs. 436 +/- 36 mL/min, respectively). Gas flow was directly related to amplitude (284 mL/min at an amplitude of 10 cm H2O, increasing to 877 mL/min at an amplitude of 80 cm H2O) when a 3.5-mm endotracheal tube was used; however, gas flow was attenuated at amplitudes of >40 cm H2O when smaller endotracheal tubes were used. Gas flow increased significantly with the increase of mean airway pressure from 92 mL/min at 15 cm H2O to 1433 mL/min at 30 cm H2O. CONCLUSIONS: In a neonatal piglet model of pneumothorax treated with HFOV, with amplitude adjusted to maintain constant alveolar ventilation, gas flow through the chest tube was significantly lower at 15 Hz compared with either 10 Hz or 5 Hz. Chest tube gas flow increased with increasing inspiratory time, amplitude, and mean airway pressure. These findings support the use of higher frequencies, short inspiratory times, low amplitudes, and low mean airway pressures for healing air leak with HFOV.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Persistent air-leak following pulmonary resection.

Air leaks are an unavoidable complication of pulmonary resection. The definition of a persistent air leak is arbitrary and may even be irrelevant in solving the problem. Persistent air leaks are more common in patients with severe COPD, and preoperative interventions are ineffective in reducing their prevalence. Meticulous surgical technique and care in handling and resection of the pulmonary parenchyma are essential in preventing persistent air leaks. Buttressing parenchymal staple lines and creating a pleural tent or pneumoperitoneum should be reserved for patients at risk for persistent air leaks. The use of currently available sealants is ineffective for the treatment of this complication. To stop persistent air leaks, early cessation of suction and placing chest tubes to an underwater seal is more effective than continuous suction. The management of persistent air leaks may require provocative chest tube clamping and permissive chest tube removal or patient discharge from the hospital with a chest tube and a Heimlich valve.

Chest Tubes↗
PubMed2003

Epsilon-aminocaproic acid in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: preincision or postheparin?

BACKGROUND: Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (epsilon-ACA), an antifibrinolytic agent, is used in cardiac surgery to decrease postoperative bleeding. Theoretical concerns exist about the potential for epsilon-ACA to contribute to thrombotic complications. For this reason epsilon-ACA administration is sometimes delayed until after heparinization. This study investigated the impact of the timing of epsilon-ACA administration on its efficacy. METHODS: In this double-blind study, 90 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery were prospectively randomized to receive either epsilon-ACA commencing prior to skin incision (bolus 150 mg/kg, followed by an infusion at 15 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1), epsilon-ACA commencing after heparin (same doses), or placebo. All infusions were terminated at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. Criteria for the transfusion of blood products were standardized. Postoperative chest tube drainage (at 6 h, 12 h, and at chest tube removal) and blood transfusion requirements of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: At all time intervals, the placebo group had significantly greater chest tube drainage than either of the two epsilon-ACA groups (P < 0.005). At no time did a significant difference exist between the two epsilon-ACA groups. A trend existed for the placebo group to require more blood products than either epsilon-ACA group. CONCLUSIONS: Epsilon-ACA produces a reduction in chest tube drainage in patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This effect is similar whether the drug is given prior to incision or following anticoagulation. Given the similar hemostatic efficacy and the theoretical potential for thrombotic complications, it may be prudent to administer epsilon-ACA following anticoagulation.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Anterior limited thoracotomy with intrathoracic illumination for lung cancer: its advantages over anteroaxillary and posterolateral thoracotomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We developed anterior limited thoracotomy (ALT) with intrathoracic illumination for curative resection of lung cancer. The present study evaluated the benefits of ALT by retrospective comparison with anteroaxillary thoracotomy (AAT) and posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT). DESIGN: Lung cancer patients, who underwent lobectomy via ALT (n = 28), AAT (n = 28), and PLT (n = 28), were matched by gender and age. Operating time, blood loss during operation, chest tube drainage volume 24 h after surgery, chest tube drainage duration, and vital capacity (VC) and chest pain from early to late postoperative period were studied for ALT, AAT, and PLT. Early postoperative chest pain was evaluated by a visual analog scale and analgesic requirements, and chronic pain was divided into five grades. RESULTS: No difference was observed in operating time among ALT, AAT, and PLT. ALT has the following advantages over PLT: (1) less blood loss during surgery (p < 0.05); (2) reduced postoperative drainage volume (p < 0.05) resulting in shorter chest tube drainage (p < 0.001); (3) diminished impairment of VC for 1 week to 6 months after surgery (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001); and (4) reduced pain from 1 day and 6 months after surgery (p < 0.001). ALT also has the advantage over AAT in reduced pain 5 days (p < 0.01) and 7 days (p < 0.05) after surgery and in decreased analgesic requirements during 14 days after surgery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ALT is a sufficient and minimally invasive thoracotomy alternative to PLT or AAT for curative lung cancer resection.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Risk of pneumothorax in CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of the lung.

PURPOSE: To determine risk factors for pneumothorax and chest tube placement associated with computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy (TNAB) of the lung. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one consecutive CT-guided TNAB procedures were performed in 117 patients. Patient age, sex, number of needle passes and pleural planes traversed, lesion size, distance of lesion from the pleura, and results of pulmonary function tests were analyzed as single and multiple dependent variables for pneumothorax and chest tube placement. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 54 of 121 procedures (44.6%); a chest tube was required in 18 cases (14.9%). Increased lesion depth was the most significant predictor of pneumothorax (P = .002). Smaller lesion size also correlated with increased risk of pneumothorax (P = .04). Among patients with pneumothorax, a significantly higher frequency of chest tube placement was seen in those with severe obstructive lung disease, as measured by percentage of predicted FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) (51% in patients requiring a chest tube vs 81% in those not requiring a chest tube, P = .006) and FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) (x100) (45% vs 66%, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Increased lesion depth and smaller lesion size correlated strongly with the development of pneumothorax. Once pneumothorax occurred, chest tube placement related to the severity of the patient's obstructive lung disease.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed2005

[Diagnostic and treatment strategy for patients with the first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax].

A retrospective analysis of 198 patients (164 men and 28 women) with the first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was made. All the patients underwent diagnostic thoracoscopy (DT) under local anesthesia before insertion of a chest tube. For 115 patients the chest tube thoracoscopy was the only treatment procedure (group I) and 77 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) wedge (atypical) resection and pleurectomy (group II). The patients were followed-up from 13 through 77 months. In group I there were 19 recurrences (16.5%), and only two recurrences in group II. In patients of group II having no pathological changes there were no recurrences while in group I there were two (3.3%). The recurrence rate in patients with pathological changes (II, III and IV stages of Vanderschuren classification) was 3% after VATS and as high as 31.5% after the chest tube treatment. The diagnostic thoracoscopy should be performed in all patients with the first episode of PSP for the assessment of the lung and pleura condition. The presence of any pathological changes points to a high risk of recurrences and should be considered as an indication for antirelapse measures (VATS). Surgery is not necessary when no morphological alterations are revealed at DT.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Management of parapneumonic collections in infants and children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has a recognized role in treatment of empyema thoracis. The purpose of this report is to show the value of initial VATS as the primary treatment of parapneumonic collections. METHODS: A retrospective review was done of 139 children who required surgical consultation for parapneumonic collections between January 1992 and July 1998. Management options were (M1) thoracentesis, chest tube drainage, or fibrinolytic therapy and delayed thoracotomy for unresolved collections; (M2) thoracentesis, chest tube drainage, fibrinolytic therapy with delayed VATS if the child remained ill; or (M3) primary VATS. Comparative data included age, duration of prehospital illness, oxygen requirements, white blood cell count, bacterial culture results, number of procedures performed per patient, duration of chest tube drainage, complications, and length of stay. Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis was used, with significance at P less than .05. RESULTS: A total of 60 children were treated by M1, 38 by M2, and 41 by M3. Age, duration of prehospital illness, oxygen requirements, white blood cell count, bacterial culture results, and complication rates were comparable. The median length of stay was 12 days for M1, 11 days for M2, and 7 days for M3, with M3 significantly shorter at P<.001. The number of procedures was a median of 2 in M1, 2 in M2, and 1 in M3, with M3 significantly fewer at P<.001. Duration of chest tube drainage was a median 5 days for M1 and 3 days for M2 and M3, with M1 significantly longer at P<.001. There were 9 thoracotomies in the M1 group, 3 in the M2 group, and none in the M3 group. One child in M3 required a second VATS. CONCLUSIONS: Primary VATS has significantly decreased the number of procedures, duration of chest tube drainage and length of stay for children with parapneumonic effusions. Primary VATS appears to be of value in management of bacterial pneumonia with effusion.

Chest Tubes↗
PubMed2004

Spontaneous pneumothorax outcome study (SPOT phase I): a 2-year review.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to describe the incidence of spontaneous pneumothorax presenting to the Emergency Department, the treatment given and the outcomes of treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax presenting to the Emergency Department of the Singapore General Hospital from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001. RESULTS: Of a total of 159 patients, with a mean age of 36.1 years (standard deviation 19.3), 94.3% were men, 75 (47.2%) were treated in the Emergency Department with chest-tube insertion, 28 (17.6%) were treated with needle aspiration, and 56 (35.2%) were observed. Significantly more patients had complete re-expansion with chest-tube (65.3%) compared with needle aspiration (17.9%) (P<0.001). Patients with needle aspiration or those being observed were more likely to have a second procedure (P<0.001), whereas patients with chest tubes were more likely to have definitive treatment subsequently (pleurodesis, thoracotomy). The mean duration of hospitalization was significantly longer for chest-tube insertion (7.4 days) compared with other groups (needle aspiration 4 days). There was no significant difference in the complication rates between treatment groups at one year. CONCLUSION: We found a male predominance locally. Treatment with chest-tube insertion is still the most popular method in the Emergency Department. Needle aspiration results in a shorter hospitalization, but a high proportion require a second procedure. Complication rates do not seem to differ from chest-tube insertion.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Evolving experience in the management of pleural empyema.

The objective of this study was to determine treatment strategies for children admitted with pleural empyema. We reviewed the medical records of 93 consecutive patients with pleural empyema who presented in the last three years. Mean age was 3.8 years (range 3.5 months to 14 years) and the male to female ratio was 52 : 41. The left side was involved in 51 (54.8 %) cases and there was only one case with bilateral effusion. After the chest X-ray and analysis of pus obtained by thoracocentesis, the initial treatment modality was chest tube drainage in 81 (87 %) patients. Children required chest tube drainage for an average of 11.9 +/- 4.8 days. Out of the 81 children, 6 needed thoracotomy due to organized pleural fluid and another 4, who developed loculated pleural effusions, were treated with intrapleural urokinase (UK) administration. Twelve children, who had a delayed presentation with organized loculated pleural fluid and pleural thickening, underwent decortication and one, who was found to have a foreign body, found during surgery, needed an upper lobe resection. Medical management with adequate chest tube drainage and appropriate antibiotics has resulted in full resolution in the majority of patients with empyema. In cases of loculated pleural effusions identified at the early stages of the chest tube drainage, intrapleural UK administration was found to be a safe and efficient treatment modality. Thoracotomy should be reserved for late and organized empyema cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of Blake drains for mediastinal and pleural drainage following cardiac operations.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal and pleural drainage following cardiac operations has traditionally been achieved with large bore, semirigid chest tubes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drainage by means of small, soft, and flexible 19 F Blake drains. METHODS: This is a review of all patients who underwent heart surgery over a 3-year period at a single institution. Chest tubes and Blake drains were removed on postoperative day 1 to 5 depending on patient's condition, amount of drainage, and surgeon's preference. The criteria for drain removal did not vary with type of drain. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the amount of drainage between both groups. Postoperative mediastinal exploration occurred in 3.47% of patients (12/346) in the chest tube group and in 2.08% of patients (8/385) in the Blake group (p = 0.27). Significant pleural effusions requiring a subsequent drainage procedure occurred in 9.54% of patients (33/346) in the chest tube group and in 9.87% of patients (38/385) in the Blake group. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were noted in the number of mediastinal explorations in patients drained with conventional chest tubes as compared to Blake drains during cardiac operations. Though not statistically significant, there may actually be an advantage of Blake drains over conventional chest tubes in this regard. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pleural effusions. Blake drains appear to be at least as effective and safe as conventional chest tubes in draining the mediastinum and pleural spaces following cardiac surgery.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2003

Rapid pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusions.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of rapid pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusions in order to reduce hospital length of stay in patients with a limited life expectancy. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: Two university hospital programs. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients with symptomatic pleural effusions associated with malignancy. INTERVENTIONS: A 14F catheter was inserted percutaneously into the pleural space after radiographic confirmation of free fluid by lateral decubitus views. Following radiographic confirmation of complete fluid evacuation, a sclerosing agent (ie, talc slurry or bleomycin) was instilled into the pleural space. This was accomplished within 2 h of chest tube insertion, unless the tube was inserted in the evening or if the lung was trapped. After clamping the tube for 90 min, the pleural space was drained for 2 h, after which the chest tube was removed. The intervention was scored as "successful" if no radiographic evidence of fluid reaccumulation was noted at 4 weeks. A "partial successful" score indicated reaccumulation of fluid that did not produce symptoms and did not require repeat pleural drainage of any sort. All other outcomes were scored as "unsuccessful." MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Forty chest tubes were inserted into 38 patients. Four procedures revealed the presence of a trapped lung and did not result in any attempt at pleurodesis. Five patients who received pleurodesis died in less than 1 month and therefore were not evaluable. Two patients had technical problems with the chest tube and were not evaluable. Of the remaining 29 procedures, drainage procedures with pleurodesis were performed in 27 patients, a complete response was seen in 14 patients (48%), a partial response was seen in 9 patients (31%), and 6 patients (21%) did not respond to pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis was completed as an outpatient procedure in only two patients. In one of these, the outcome was unsuccessful. In the remainder, insertion of the chest tube in the evening or additional medical problems necessitated hospital admission, but the entire procedure was completed within 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: Chemical pleurodesis can be accomplished with good results in < 24 h in the majority of patients with malignant pleural effusions.

Chest Tubes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pneumothorax complicating cardiac surgery.

Pneumothorax is an infrequent complication of cardiac surgery. In order to evaluate potential causative or associated factors and to formulate guidelines for prevention and management of this complication, we undertook a retrospective nine-year analysis of our adult cardiac surgical procedures. Twenty-one of 1463 patients suffered a postoperative pneumothorax for an overall incidence of 1.4%. Life threatening pneumothoraces occurred in four patients. Seven of 21 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eighteen required chest tube insertion. Four patients, including three with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, required further interventions. These included additional chest tube insertion in three, high constant chest tube suction in three, tetracycline pleurodesis in three, and thoracotomy in one patient. Pneumothoraces following cardiac surgery are often preventable, may be associated with prolonged morbidity, and are potentially life threatening. Conservative management with chest tube drainage is usually successful. Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease are more likely to suffer prolonged morbidity and require thoracotomy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

[Dangers and risks of thoracic drainage at the accident site].

For several years it has been argued that a chest tube should be placed at the scene of an accident if thoracic trauma is suspected. However, during emergency treatment in hospital it has been observed that a high number of such tubes have been placed incorrectly. To validate this impression, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical course of 33 trauma victims who had chest tubes placed at the scene of accident. It was found that 39.4% of the chest tubes were placed completely incorrectly and 21.2% required some correction; 39.4% were placed correctly. In two cases (6.1%) life-threatening complications developed because of the chest tube, necessitating a thoracotomy in 1 patient and repeated pericardial punction in the other. Based on the results of our study we believe that a more critical attitude should be adopted to the placement of chest tubes at the scene of the accident.

Chest Tubes↗