Sudden death following chest tube insertion: an unusual case of vagus nerve irritation.
We present an unusual complication of chest tube placement in a patient with chest trauma in which the tube caused hemorrhage around the vagus nerve at the apex of the hemithorax. The hemorrhage and irritation to the nerve resulted in vagus stimulation, and the patient developed a profound bradycardia that was not responsive to usual resuscitative measures.
Ward
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Albama Department of Forensic Sciences, Mobile 36670.
Hughes
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D000328:Adult; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014630:Vagus Nerve