Haemothorax after pig-tail catheter removal in a patient with primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
A case of haemothorax is described which occurred after the removal of a small pig-tail chest tube (8.5 F) that was inserted in the second intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line, for primary spontaneous pneumothorax management. The patient was successfully resuscitated and 0.85 l of blood was aspirated. There was no evidence for pre-existing haemothorax, no metal instrument was used and no precipitating factor was present. Thus, it is possible that bleeding was due to a tear of a vessel proximal to the second intercostal space during pig-tail catheter removal by a "grapple-hook" mechanism. Whether a pig-tail catheter in itself carries an additional risk of complications compared with other catheter types is questionable. However, this report highlights the potential danger that accompanies pig-tail drain insertion into the second intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line, and suggests that insertion in other sites is technically easy and potentially safer for pneumothorax drainage.
Makris
Demosthenes
D
Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Albert Calmette, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille Cedex1, France. appollon7@hotmail.com
Hatthabi
Medi
M
Scherpereel
Arnaud
A
Lafitte
Jean-Jaques
JJ
Marquette
Charles-Hugo
CH
D000328:Adult; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography