RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Life threatening haemorrhage after anterior needle aspiration of pneumothoraces. A role for lateral needle aspiration in emergency decompression of spontaneous pneumothorax
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 383
OP 384
DO 10.1136/emj.20.4.383
VO 20
IS 4
A1 R Rawlins
A1 K M Brown
A1 C S Carr
A1 C R Cameron
YR 2003
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/20/4/383.abstract
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.