PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R Rawlins
AU  - K M Brown
AU  - C S Carr
AU  - C R Cameron
TI  - Life threatening haemorrhage after anterior needle aspiration of pneumothoraces. A role for lateral needle aspiration in emergency decompression of spontaneous pneumothorax
AID  - 10.1136/emj.20.4.383
DP  - 2003 Jul 01
TA  - Emergency Medicine Journal
PG  - 383--384
VI  - 20
IP  - 4
4099  - http://emj.bmj.com/content/20/4/383.short
4100  - http://emj.bmj.com/content/20/4/383.full
SO  - Emerg Med J2003 Jul 01; 20
AB  - 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.