CASE REPORT

Life threatening haemorrhage after anterior needle aspiration of pneumothoraces. A role for lateral needle aspiration in emergency decompression of spontaneous pneumothorax

R Rawlins¹, K M Brown², C S Carr², C R Cameron³

¹ King’s College Hospital, London, UK
² St Thomas’s Hospital, London, UK
³ Guy’s Hospital, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr R Rawlins, 28 Caspian Way, Swanscombe, Kent DA10 0LE, UK;
Ranr3{at}aol.com

Needle aspiration is a recognised emergency treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax and in the case of suspected tension is usually performed before chest radiography. Three cases are described of apparent life threatening haemorrhage after anterior aspiration in the second intercostal space, mid-clavicular line (2ICS MCL) requiring resuscitation, and transfer to a cardiothoracic unit. In these patients there was no evidence of haemothorax on initial presentation. Lateral needle aspiration, in the site recommended for chest drain insertion, the 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line (5ICS ALL) is technically easy and may be a potentially safer option for decompressing pneumothoraces.

Keywords: tension pneumothorax; decompression aspiration

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Wax, D. B., Leibowitz, A. B. (2007). Radiologic Assessment of Potential Sites for Needle Decompression of a Tension Pneumothorax. Anesth. Analg. 105: 1385-1388 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Makris, D., Hatthabi, M., Scherpereel, A., Lafitte, J.-J., Marquette, C.-H. (2007). Haemothorax after pig-tail catheter removal in a patient with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Emerg. Med. J. 24: e17-e17 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ferrie, E P, Collum, N, McGovern, S (2005). The right place in the right space? Awareness of site for needle thoracocentesis. Emerg. Med. J. 22: 788-789 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leigh-Smith, S, Harris, T (2005). Tension pneumothorax--time for a re-think?. Emerg. Med. J. 22: 8-16 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rae, F C (2005). Haemorrhage after pneumothorax aspiration. Emerg. Med. J. 22: 78-78 [Full Text]  

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