title: Computed tomography of malpositioned thoracostomy drains: a pictorial essay.
abstract: Chest drain placement is essential to the management of patients with abnormal thoracic collections of air or fluid. Frequently, in these critically ill patients, drain position can only be assessed by portable frontal radiographs. However, evaluation by axial chest CT in some cases reveals unexpected malplacement that may prompt repositioning to reduce morbidity and improve drain function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mirvis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shanmuganathan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013907:Thoracostomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed