Tension hemothorax due to iatrogenic subclavian artery perforation: Hybrid management of a very rare complication

Iatrogenic subclavian artery rupture: A unique case report on balloon occlusion

INTRODUCTION

Inadvertent subclavian artery puncture during attempted central venous catheterization can be devastating. Percutaneous stent grafting, closure devices and conventional surgery have been described to effect repair. Balloon occlusion has also been described and often recommended. Numerous publications advise use of balloon expanded to no less than the diameter of the punctured artery.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the case of a 21 year-old male whose right subclavian artery was inadvertently punctured after central-line removal. Our balloon when expanded was purposely slightly smaller than the inner arterial diameter. Balloon occlusion nevertheless alone sufficed to effect closure and repair.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

When the expanded balloon surpasses the diameter of the subclavian artery, it is expected that blood flow to the upper extremity will be cut off. Presently, there is a lack of definitive data concerning the maximum duration for balloon inflation that could lead to upper extremity ischemia. However, in this particular case, there was a temporary reduction in vertebral artery flow, while the flow in the carotid and axillosubclavian arteries remained rapid and uninterrupted. To our understanding, only one other case documents the use of a balloon shorter than the vessel diameter.

CONCLUSION

In specific scenarios, it is advisable to consider the use of smaller balloon diameters to effectively stop extravasation while ensuring adequate perfusion to the brain and hand. While alternative approaches such as open repair, and stent graft procedure have been reported for repairing subclavian artery rupture, balloon tamponade provides interventional radiologists with a distinct technical advantage.

Complications associated with pre-hospital open thoracostomies: a rapid review

Background

Open thoracostomies have become the standard of care in pre-hospital critical care in patients with chest injuries receiving positive pressure ventilation. The procedure has embedded itself as a rapid method to decompress air or fluid in the chest cavity since its original description in 1995, with a complication rate equal to or better than the out-of-hospital insertion of indwelling pleural catheters. A literature review was performed to explore potential negative implications of open thoracostomies and discuss its role in mechanically ventilated patients without clinical features of pneumothorax.

Main findings

A rapid review of key healthcare databases showed a significant rate of complications associated with pre-hospital open thoracostomies. Of 352 thoracostomies included in the final analysis, 10.6% (n = 38) led to complications of which most were related to operator error or infection (n = 26). Pneumothoraces were missed in 2.2% (n = 8) of all cases.

Conclusion

There is an appreciable complication rate associated with pre-hospital open thoracostomy. Based on a risk/benefit decision for individual patients, it may be appropriate to withhold intervention in the absence of clinical features, but consideration must be given to the environment where the patient will be monitored during care and transfer. Chest ultrasound can be an effective assessment adjunct to rule in pneumothorax, and may have a role in mitigating the rate of missed cases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13049-021-00976-1.