Ventricular tachycardia following tube thoracotomy.
Arrhythmias provoked by tube thoracotomy are a rare complication. We report a ventricular tachycardia after chest tube insertion for a device-related pneumothorax. Sinus rhythm was restored only by removal of the chest tube and insertion of a pliable pleural drain. Identification of the chest tube as an arrhythmic trigger following tube thoracotomy is essential in definitive management of refractory arrhythmias.
1Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Benjamin
B
Hibbert
Toon Wei
TW
Lim
Rebecca
R
Hibbert
Martin
M
Green
Michael H
MH
Gollob
Darryl R
DR
Davis
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D013575:Syncope / Q000601:surgery; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*