Perforation of the left atrium by a chest tube in a patient with cardiomegaly: management of a rare, but life-threatening complication

Chest tube thoracostomy: A simple life-saving procedure with potential hazardous risks

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Chest tube thoracostomy is a simple life-saving procedure with many benefits but comes with significant potential morbidity. Potentially all intra-thoracic organs are at risk of possible injury as well as peritoneal.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present four patients who had chest tube thoracostomy with potential complications fortunately were managed promptly and recovered fully.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Complications related to tube thoracostomy is reported up to 25 % especially when done under emergency conditions. While the procedure is reported safe, it's associated morbidity is not well described. Additionally, clinicians are urged to follow standard operating procedures and address the potential complications with consent to their patients.

CONCLUSION

Chest tube thoracostomy is an invasive life-saving procedure performed across various clinical ranks and sub-specialties. It has potential life-threatening risks and complications therefore clinicians should be well trained to identify such complications and address accordingly.

Percutaneous closure of accidental left atrium puncture: a case report

Background

Minimally invasive alternatives to surgical closure of cardiac perforations are a recognized need, especially in critically ill patients in whom predicted surgical mortality is prohibitive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an iatrogenic left atrium (LA) puncture closed with a plug-based vascular closure device (VCD).

Case summary

During a palliative right-sided thoracentesis on a 73-year-old woman, with end-stage heart failure due to rheumatic valvular heart disease, an accidental puncture and insertion of a central venous catheter into an aneurysmatic LA occurred. This complication was successfully managed percutaneously, under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance, after cardiac computed tomography planning, using a plug-based VCD.

Discussion

This case demonstrates the possible utility of plug-based devices for iatrogenic LA perforation closure, when surgical risk is deemed prohibitive.

Focused Transesophageal Echocardiography for Bedside Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Cardiac Perforation: A Case Report

We describe an extremely rare complication of chest tube placement and focused transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of a life-threatening condition. It illustrates the value and utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by way of a focused TEE in confirming a diagnosis and contributing toward the expeditious operative management of a life-threatening scenario. POCUS continues to gain traction in the field of anesthesiology. However, incorporation of POCUS training into curriculum of anesthesia residency programs is still in the infancy stages. Our report demonstrates the need for development and standardization of POCUS training for anesthesiologists in the perioperative setting.

Misadventures of a Pigtail: Case Report of Accidental Insertion of a Chest Tube Into the Left Atrium During Interventional Radiology-Guided Placement

Chest tube thoracostomy is a commonly performed procedure in the emergency department, operating room, and intensive care unit. We report an extremely rare case of accidental insertion of a chest tube into the left atrium via the right pulmonary vein during an interventional radiology-guided placement of the catheter. To our knowledge, such a case has not been reported to date. The anesthetic and surgical management of this injury are discussed.

Left ventricular perforation with catheter decompression

Thoracostomy tube placement is one of the more common procedures performed in the Emergency Department, most commonly for treatment of pneumothorax or hemothorax but occasionally for drainage of empyema or pleural effusion. Thoracostomy may be a life-saving procedure with a wide range of complication rates reported, ranging from 19.4-37%, most commonly extrathoracic placement. Most recent meta-analyses showed a relatively stable complication rate of 19% over the past three decades with the vast majority being benign in nature. We present a case with the rare complication of thoracostomy in which of a small-caliber thoracostomy tube was placed in the left ventricle. Although thoracotomy was performed to remove the catheter, the patient remained virtually asymptomatic and had an uneventful course.

Identifying a safe site for intercostal catheter insertion using the mid-arm point (MAP)

Background: Over 85% of chest injuries requiring surgical intervention can be managed with tube thoracostomy/intercostal catheter (ICC) insertion alone. However, complication rates of ICC insertion have been reported in the literature to be as high as 37%. Insertional complications, including the incorrect identification of the safe zone chest wall location for ICC placement, are common issues, with up to 41% of insertions occurring outside of this safe area. A new biometric approach using the patient's proportional skeletal upper limb anatomy to allow correct identification of the chest wall skin site for ICC insertion may reduce complications. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the performance of the mid-arm point (MAP) method in identifying the safe zone for ICC insertion. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers were recruited from The Alfred Hospital, a Level I Adult Trauma Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Blinded investigators used the MAP to measure the mid-point of the adducted arm of each volunteer bilaterally. A skin marking was placed on the anterior axillary line of the adjacent chest wall, and with the arm then abducted to 90 degrees, the underlying intercostal space was identified. Results: Using the MAP method, all of the 120 measurements fell within the ‘safe zone’ of the fourth to sixth intercostal spaces bilaterally. The median intercostal space identified was the fifth space, with investigators finding this in 86% of measurements independent of age, sex, height, weight or side. Conclusion: A simple technique using the MAP is a reliable marker for the identification of the safe zone for ICC insertion in healthy volunteers. The clinical utility for patients undergoing pleural decompression and drainage needs prospective evaluation.

[Chest decompression in emergency medicine and intensive care]

Decompression of the chest is a life-saving invasive procedure for tension pneumothorax, trauma-associated cardiopulmonary resuscitation or massive haematopneumothorax that every emergency physician or intensivist must master. Particularly in the preclinical setting, indication must be restricted to urgent cases, but in these cases chest decompression must be executed without delay, even in subpar circumstances. The methods available are needle decompression or thoracentesis via mini-thoracotomy with or without insertion of a chest tube in the midclavicular line of the 2nd/3rd intercostal space (Monaldi-position) or in the anterior to mid-axillary line of the 4th/5th intercostal space (Bülau-position). Needle decompression is quick and does not require much material, but should be regarded as a temporary measure. Due to insufficient length of the usual 14-gauge intravenous catheters, the pleural cavity cannot be reached in a considerable percentage of patients. In the case of mini-thoracotomy, one must be cautious not to penetrate the chest inferior of the mammillary level, to employ blunt dissection techniques, to clearly identify the pleural space with a finger and not to use a trocar. In extremely urgent cases opening the pleural membrane by thoracostomy without inserting a chest tube is sufficient in mechanically ventilated patients. Complications are common and mainly include ectopic positions, which can jeopardise effectiveness of the procedure, sometimes fatal injuries to adjacent intrathoracic or - in case of too inferior placement - intraabdominal organs as well as haemorrhage or infections. By respecting the basic rules for safe chest decompression many of these complications should be avoidable.

Tube Thoracostomy: A Structured Review of Case Reports and a Standardized Format for Reporting Complications

INTRODUCTION

Although seemingly straightforward, tube thoracostomy (TT) has been associated with complication rates as high as 30 %. A lack of a standardized nomenclature for reporting TT complications makes comparison and evaluation of reports impossible. We aim to develop a classification method in order to standardize the reporting of complications of TT and identify all reported complications of TT and time course in which they occurred to validate the reporting method.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews from each databases inception through November 5, 2013 was conducted. Original articles written in the English language reporting TT complications were searched. This review adhered to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) standards. Duplicate reviewers abstracted case reports for inclusion. Cases were then sorted into one of the five complication categories by two reviewers, and in case of disagreements, settled by a third reviewer.

RESULTS

Of 751 papers reporting TT complications, 124 case reports were included for analysis. From these reports, five main categories of TT complications were identified: insertional (n = 65); positional (n = 36); removal (n = 11); infective and immunologic (n = 7); and instructional, educational, or equipment related (n = 5). Placement of TT has occurred in nearly every soft tissue and vascular structure in the thoracic cavity and intra-abdominal organs.

CONCLUSION

Our classification method provides further clarity and systematic standardization for reporting TT complications.

Tube thoracostomy; chest tube implantation and follow up

Pneumothorax is an urgent medical situation that requires urgent treatment. We can divide this entity based on the etiology to primary and secondary. Chest tube implantation can be performed either in the upper chest wall or lower. Both thoracic surgeons and pulmonary physicians can place a chest tube with minimal invasive techniques. In our current work, we will demonstrate chest tube implantation to locations, methodology and tools.

The spectrum of visceral injuries secondary to misplaced intercostal chest drains: experience from a high volume trauma service in South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Iatrogenic visceral injuries (IVI) secondary to the insertion of an intercostal chest drain (ICD) are well documented, but are usually confined to case reports and small series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed our experience with 53 consecutive patients over a insertion seven year period who sustained an IVI secondary to an ICD and describe the spectrum of injuries and clinical outcome in a high volume trauma service in South Africa.

RESULTS

A total of 53 ICDs were inserted in 53 patients, 83% (44/53) of which were on the left side, and 17% (9/53) on the right side. 92% (49/53) of the patients were males and the mean age for all patients was 24 (±8) years. 85% of the patients were referred from rural hospitals, the remaining 15% were treated initially at our institution. A trocar was used in 75% (40/53) of patients and in 9% (5/53), a trocar was not used, 58 organ injuries occurred in 53 patients. 92% (49/53) of patients sustained a single organ injury and 4 sustained multiple injuries. The three most common injuries were: diaphragm (36%, 21/53), gastric (22%, 13/53), and pulmonary (12%, 7/53). Other injuries were: 6 (10%) spleen, 4 (7%) liver, 2 (3%) colon and 1 (2%) kidney. Three (5%) sustained an injury to the intercostal artery and one (2%) sustained a pulmonary artery injury. 39 patients (74%) required operative interventions which included laparoscopy: 20 (51%), laparotomy: 8 (21%), thoracotomy: 8 (21%), VAT: 3 (8%). A total of 28 patients (53%) developed further complications: 13 wound sepsis, 7 pneumonia, 6 empyema, 2 ARDS. and 15% (8/53) required intensive care admission. The mean length of hospital stay was 7 (±4) days.

CONCLUSIONS

IVI is associated with significant morbidity, with diaphragmatic, gastric and pulmonary injuries being the most common. The majority were inserted in the rural hospitals and were associated with use of a trochar, Level of evidence: III, Study type: Retrospective study.

Tube thoracostomy: complications and its management

Background. Tube thoracostomy is widely used throughout the medical, surgical, and critical care specialities. It is generally used to drain pleural collections either as elective or emergency. Complications resulting from tube thoracostomy can occasionally be life threatening. Aim. To present an update on the complications and management of complications of tube thoracostomy. Methods. A review of the publications obtained from Medline search, medical libraries, and Google on tube thoracostomy and its complications was done. Results. Tube thoracostomy is a common surgical procedure which can be performed by either the blunt dissection technique or the trocar technique. Complication rates are increased by the trocar technique. These complications have been broadly classified as either technical or infective. Technical causes include tube malposition, blocked drain, chest drain dislodgement, reexpansion pulmonary edema, subcutaneous emphysema, nerve injuries, cardiac and vascular injuries, oesophageal injuries, residual/postextubation pneumothorax, fistulae, tumor recurrence at insertion site, herniation through the site of thoracostomy, chylothorax, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Infective complications include empyema and surgical site infection. Conclusion. Tube thoracostomy, though commonly performed is not without risk. Blunt dissection technique has lower risk of complications and is hence recommended.

Chest tube injury to left ventricle: complication or negligence?

An injury to the left ventricle after a chest tube insertion is a rare but lethal phenomenon that is likely to occur if precautions are not seriously addressed. We present a 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed a left empyema thoracis. An attempt to place a chest drain in this young girl was almost fatal. A left ventricular repair together with thoracotomy and decortication were successful. This case emphasizes the rarity of this lethal complication and the importance of the correct technique for chest tube insertion.

Ulnar neuropathy after tube thoracostomy for pneumothorax

BACKGROUND

Chest tube placement is a frequently required surgical procedure among patients in the emergency department. Although the procedure is often simple, occasionally there are known complications, including unresolved pneumothorax or hemopneumothorax, extrathoracic placement of the tube, and damage to the intercostal neurovascular bundle.

OBJECTIVES

We report an unusual yet noteworthy complication of ulnar neuropathy after chest tube placement for pneumothorax. Awareness of the association between acute ulnar neuropathy and chest tube placement will alert the physician to reposition the tube and prevent ongoing compression.

CASE REPORT

A 43-year-old man developed right-sided rib fractures (6-9 and 12) and a pneumothorax from blunt trauma to the right chest wall. Upon insertion of a 36 French chest tube, the patient reported immediate ulnar nerve distribution paresthesias of the ipsilateral arm. The tube was subsequently repositioned with improvement of symptoms. He was later discharged with occupational therapy outpatient follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Ulnar neuropathy is a rare, though significant, complication associated with tube thoracostomy. Management of persistent symptoms is expectant, with early upper extremity range of motion and strength exercise.

[Damage of the subclavian vein with a thorax drainage]

The necessity for insertion of a thorax drainage can lead to serious complications. Especially the use of a trocar instead of a mini-thoracotomy has a notable risk of misplacement or complications. Chest tubes per se can perforate the parietal pleura resulting in an extrathoracic position of the tube and contraindications for chest tubes should always be considered. Accidental lacerations of blood vessels should be avoided by a correct technique and a clear indication. A chest X-ray in one plane is not sufficient to prove correct positioning of a chest tube and suspected misplacement of a chest tube has to be assessed radiographically in at least two planes. A case of a fatal complication of a misplaced chest tube causing a laceration of the right subclavian vein is described.

[A near-miss event. A new approach in the study of adverse events]

A near-miss event is defined as an event that could have resulted in an injury, fatality, or property damage if it had not been prevented. Analysis of near-miss events could be an efficient method in the study of adverse events. Reporting of near-misses has many benefits in the study of adverse events since near-misses occur more frequently than adverse events. In addition, as they have no consequences, fear that the professionals involved would have to report them is less. However, up to now, this method has been slow to develop. We present two clinical cases that help to understand the usefulness of the near-miss reporting system.