Randomized Clinical Trial of 14-French (14F) Pigtail Catheters versus 28-32F Chest Tubes in the Management of Patients with Traumatic Hemothorax and Hemopneumothorax.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional management of traumatic hemothorax/hemopneumothorax (HTX/HPTX) has been insertion of large-bore 32-40 French (Fr) chest tubes (CTs). Retrospective studies have shown 14Fr percutaneous pigtail catheters (PCs) are equally effective as CTs. Our aim was to compare effectiveness between PCs and CTs by performing the first randomized controlled trial (RCT). We hypothesize PCs work equally as well as CTs in management of traumatic HTX/HPTX. METHODS: Prospective RCT comparing 14Fr PCs to 28-32Fr CTs for management of traumatic HTX/HPTX from 07/2015 to 01/2018. We excluded patients requiring emergency tube placement or who refused. Primary outcome was failure rate defined as retained HTX or recurrent PTX requiring additional intervention. Secondary outcomes included initial output (IO), tube days and insertion perception experience (IPE) score on a scale of 1-5 (1 = tolerable experience, 5 = worst experience). Unpaired Student's t-test, chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were utilized with significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics between PC patients (N = 20) and CT patients (N = 23) were similar. Failure rates (10% PCs vs. 17% CTs, P = 0.49) between cohorts were similar. IO (median, 650 milliliters[ml]; interquartile range[IR], 375-1087; for PCs vs. 400 ml; IR, 240-700; for CTs, P = 0.06), and tube duration was similar, but PC patients reported lower IPE scores (median, 1, "I can tolerate it"; IR, 1-2) than CT patients (median, 3, "It was a bad experience"; IR, 3-4, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with traumatic HTX/HPTX, 14Fr PCs were equally as effective as 28-32Fr CTs with no significant difference in failure rates. PC patients, however, reported a better insertion experience. www.ClinicalTrials.gov Registration ID: NCT02553434.

Tension Hemopneumothorax in the Setting of Mechanical CPR during Prehospital Cardiac Arrest.

INTRODUCTION: There are several complications associated with automated mechanical CPR (AM-CPR), including tension pneumothoraces. The incidence of these complications and the risk factors for their development remain poorly characterized. Tension hemopneumothorax is a previously unreported complication of AM-CPR. The authors present a case of a suspected tension hemopneumothorax that developed during the use of an automated mechanical CPR device. Case Description: A 67 year-old woman with a history of COPD and CABG was observed by an off-duty firefighter to be slumped behind the wheel of an ice cream truck that drifted off the road at a low rate of speed and was stopped by a wooden fence, resulting in only minor paint scratches. The patient was found to be in cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm. No signs of trauma were noted, and equal bilateral breath sounds were present with BVM ventilation. After 13 minutes of manual CPR, fire department personnel applied their Defibtech LifeLine ARM mechanical CPR device to the patient. During resuscitation, the device had to be repositioned twice due to rightward piston migration off of the sternum. Seven minutes after AM-CPR application, the patient had absent right-sided breath sounds and ventilations were more difficult. Needle decompression was performed with an audible release of air. A chest tube was placed by an EMS physician and roughly 400 mL of blood were immediately returned. At the next 2-minute pulse check, ROSC was noted, and the patient was transported to the hospital. She had an ischemic EKG and elevated troponin. Chest CT showed emphysematous lungs, bilateral rib fractures, and a small right-sided pneumothorax. Despite aggressive measures, the patient's condition gradually worsened, and she died 48 hours after presentation. Discussion/Conclusion: Migration of AM-CPR device pistons may contribute to the development of iatrogenic injuries such as hemopneumothoraces. Patients with underlying lung disease may be at a higher risk of developing pneumothoraces or hemopneumothoraces during the course of AM-CPR. Awareness of these potential complications may aid first responders by improving vigilance of piston location and by providing quicker recognition of iatrogenic injuries that need immediate attention to improve the opportunity for ROSC.

A Prospective Study of 7-Year Experience Using Percutaneous 14-French Pigtail Catheters for Traumatic Hemothorax/Hemopneumothorax at a Level-1 Trauma Center: Size Still Does Not Matter.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of 14-French (14F) pigtail catheters (PCs) compared to 32-40F chest tubes (CTs) in patients with traumatic hemothorax (HTX) and hemopneumothorax (HPTX) is becoming more well known but still lacking. The aim of our study was to analyze our cumulative experience and outcomes with PCs in patients with traumatic HTX/HPTX. We hypothesized that PCs would be as effective as CTs. METHODS: Using our PC database, we analyzed all trauma patients who required chest drainage for HTX/HPTX from 2008 to 2014. Primary outcomes of interest, comparing PCs to CTs, included initial drainage output in milliliters (mL), tube insertion-related complications, and failure rate. For our statistical analysis, we used the unpaired Student's t test, Chi-square test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. We defined statistical significance as P < 0.05. RESULTS: During the 7-year period, 496 trauma patients required chest drainage for traumatic HTX/HPTX: 307 by CTs and 189 by PCs. PC patients were older (52 ± 21 vs. 42 ± 19, P < 0.001), demonstrated a significantly higher occurrence of blunt trauma (86 vs. 55%, P ≤ 0.001), and had tubes placed in a non-emergent fashion (Day 1 [interquartile range (IQR) 1-3 days] for PC placement vs. Day 0 [IQR 0-1 days] for CT placement, P < 0.001). All primary outcomes of interest were similar, except that the initial drainage output for PCs was higher (425 mL [IQR 200-800 mL] vs. 300 mL [IQR 150-500], P < 0.001). Findings for subgroup analysis among emergent and non-emergent PC placement were also similar to CT placement. CONCLUSION: PCs had similar outcomes to CTs in terms of failure rate and tube insertion-related complications, and the initial drainage output from PCs was not inferior to that of CTs. The usage of PCs was, however, selective. A future multi-center study is needed to provide additional support and information for PC usage in traumatic HTX/HPTX.

Malposition of a Central Venous Catheter in Trauma: Confirmation of Placement Prevents Complications.

This case study presents the inadvertent catheterization of a traumatic hemopneumothorax. A 22-year-old man sustained multiple stab wounds, including the left chest with a resultant hemopneumothorax. Upon arrival at a Level 1 trauma center, an ipsilateral subclavian central catheter was placed, blood was freely aspirated, and because of the patient's critical status, immediately utilized for resuscitation prior to line verification by radiography. A short time later, the catheter was felt to be malpositioned, most likely in the left intrathoracic space, and removed. The patient subsequently recovered and was discharged home 3 days later.

[Hemopneumothorax after thoracic sympathetic nerve block; report of a case].

A 72-year-old man, who had been treated pneumothorax 50 years ago, visited a physician complaining of dyspnea after thoracic sympathetic nerve block for postherpetic neuralgia. The patient was diagnosed as pneumothorax, and was consulted to our hospital. Clinical sign and the chest radiography suggested tension hemopneumothorax, and the chest drainage was immediately performed. Although bloody fluid of 1,100 ml was initially drained, no further increase was noted. The patient was discharged on the 21st hospital day.

Chest Tube Size Selection: Evaluating Provider Practices, Treatment Efficacy, and Complications in Management of Thoracic Trauma.

BACKGROUND: The standard for managing traumatic pneumothorax (PTX), hemothorax (HTX), and hemopneumothorax (HPTX) has historically been large-bore (LB) chest tubes (>20-Fr). Previous studies have shown equal efficacy of small-bore (SB) chest tubes (≤19-Fr) in draining PTX and HTX/HPTX. This study aimed to evaluate provider practice patterns, treatment efficacy, and complications related to the selection of chest tube sizes for patients with thoracic trauma. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on adult patients who underwent tube thoracostomy for traumatic PTX, HTX, or HPTX at a Level 1 Trauma Center from January 2016 to December 2021. Comparison was made between SB and LB thoracostomy tubes. The primary outcome was indication for chest tube placement based on injury pattern. Secondary outcomes included retained hemothorax, insertion-related complications, and duration of chest tube placement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-one patients were included and 297 (87.1%) received LB tubes. No significant differences were found between the groups concerning tube failure and insertion-related complications. LB tubes were more frequently placed in patients with penetrating MOI, higher average ISS, and higher average thoracic AIS. Patients who received LB chest tubes experienced a higher incidence of retained HTX. DISCUSSION: In patients with thoracic trauma, both SB and LB chest tubes may be used for treatment. SB tubes are typically placed in nonemergent situations, and there is apparent provider bias for LB tubes. A future randomized clinical trial is needed to provide additional data on the usage of SB tubes in emergent situations.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax causing life-threatening hemorrhage: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare condition that can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated. We report a case of early treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old Japanese male was diagnosed with left pneumothorax and underwent chest tube drainage. A total of 10 hours after admission, the patient developed dyspnea, chest pain, and sudden massive bloody effusion. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed contrast extravasation near the left lung apex, and spontaneous hemopneumothorax was diagnosed. Angiography revealed bleeding from a branch of the subscapular artery and transcatheter arterial embolization was performed. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesiologists involved in urgent surgeries must be aware that a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax can develop a hemopneumothorax, even when full lung expansion has been obtained following chest tube drainage, owing to latent aberrant artery disruption. Interprofessional team engagement is essential for spontaneous hemopneumothorax management.

Traumatic forequarter amputation associated acute lung injury (ALI): report of one case.

One case of traumatic forequarter amputation associated acute lung injury (ALI) was presented. A discussion reviewing the treatment guidelines for this devastating injury, and pointing out the importance of supporting the lung and preventing the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was included.

[Spontaneous tension haemopneumothorax]. / Spontan tansiyon hemopnömotoraks.

Spontaneous tension haemopneumothorax is a very rare condition. Forty two-year- old male patient who applied with sudden onset of dyspnea, chest pain was tachypneic, tachycardic, cyanotic and hypotensive. This is the second case of spontaneous tension haemopneumothorax in English literature, according to our knowledge. We present this case because of being a rare condition.

Unusual case of spontaneous hemopneumothorax in a Tunisian pulmonology department: a case report.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare encountered entity in clinical practice. It can be life threatening, so a prompt diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are required. We report a case of a right spontaneous hemopneumothorax in a 31-year-old man, complicated with hemorrhagic shock. Conservative therapy with only thoracic drainage with close monitoring of outflow and hemodynamic parameters was performed. In front of hemodynamic instability, an emergency video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. An apical bulla adhering to the parietal pleura has been identified as the source of the bleeding. The resection of the bullae and electrocauterization of the bleeding adhesion were effectuated. The hemostasis was easily achieved. The actual experience suggests that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery should be performed as soon as possible after the diagnosis of spontaneous hemopneumothorax. Indeed, conservative therapy with chest drainage should only be performed as bridge to recovery for the stabilization before the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax with a ruptured aneurysm in the second intercostal artery: report of a case.

Ruptured intercostal aneurysm is a rare cause of spontaneous hemopneumothorax (SHP). A 29-year-old woman presented to our hospital with left neck pain and, in the emergency room, suddenly lost consciousness. Chest radiography showed massive pleural effusion and the moderate collapse of the left lung. A chest drain was placed and 800 mL of bloody pleural effusion was collected. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a ruptured aneurysm near the left pulmonary apex. Emergency angiography further revealed the ruptured aneurysm in the second intercostal artery. Transcatheter angiographic embolization (TAE) was performed, which resulted in hemostasis. On hospitalization day 2, the hematoma was removed via video-assisted thoracic surgery. A bulla was also identified in the lower lobe and removed. She was discharged from the hospital on a postoperative day 6 without complications. Thus, TAE might be effective to control bleeding during the initial treatment of SHP due to a ruptured aneurysm.

Concealment of trauma and occupational accidents among Fukushima nuclear disaster decontamination workers: A case report.

OBJECTIVES: Limited information exists concerning occupational risks in decontamination work after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Workers involved tend to be migrant workers, face various health risks, and are usually from a low socioeconomic background and generally have difficulty in finding employment. We report a specific case to illustrate the way these workers tend to get injured during working hours and draw attention to the problems arising. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old Japanese male decontamination worker was referred to our emergency department after a fall while he was working in an Exclusion Zone surrounding the FDNPP. He was blind in his right eye. He was diagnosed with traumatic multiple rib fractures and a tube thoracostomy was performed. He was discharged from hospital after 7 days. Payment has been changed from "occupational accident," which is required to be reported to the Local Labor Standards Office, to "general medical treatment" which is no obligation. CONCLUSION: Trauma or physical injury of any kind is an occupational hazard for workers, especially those operating in the chaotic and unpredictable environments following any disasters. Companies employing such workers and owners of any facilities or locations in which they may be working are responsible for the safety of their workers. They should provide appropriate training and should comply with all prevailing Employment Laws and follow mandatory safety regulations. If companies and authorities are in breach of any laws, ignore their responsibilities, or jeopardize the health of their workers, they should be held accountable.

Long-term pulmonary function after recovery from pulmonary contusion due to blunt chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: Blunt chest trauma can cause severe acute pulmonary dysfunction due to hemo/pneumothorax, rib fractures and lung contusion. OBJECTIVES: To study the long-term effects on lung function tests after patients' recovery from severe chest trauma. METHODS: We investigated the outcome and lung function tests in 13 patients with severe blunt chest trauma and lung contusion. RESULTS: The study group comprised 9 men and 4 women with an average age of 44.6 +/- 13 years (median 45 years). Ten had been injured in motor vehicle accidents and 3 had fallen from a height. In addition to lung contusion most of them had fractures of more than three ribs and hemo/pneumothorax. Ten patients were treated with chest drains. Mean intensive care unit stay was 11 days (range 0-90) and mechanical ventilation 19 (0-60) days. Ten patients had other concomitant injuries. Mean forced expiratory volume in the first second was 81.2 +/- 15.3%, mean forced vital capacity was 85 +/- 13%, residual volume was 143 +/- 33.4%, total lung capacity was 101 +/- 14% and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity 87 +/- 24. Post-exercise oxygen saturation was normal in all patients (97 +/- 1.5%), and mean oxygen consumption max/kg was 18 +/- 4.3 ml/kg/min (60.2 +/- 15%). FEV1 was significantly lower among smokers (71.1 +/- 12.2 vs. 89.2 +/- 13.6%, P = 0.017). There was a non-significant tendency towards lower FEV1 among patients who underwent mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Late after severe trauma involving lung contusion, substantial recovery was demonstrated with improved pulmonary function tests. These results encourage maximal intensive care in these patients. Further larger studies are required to investigate different factors affecting prognosis.

A case report: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe blunt thoracic trauma.

INTRODUCTION: The use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in trauma patients has been controversial, but VV-ECMO plays a crucial role when the lungs are extensively damaged and when conventional management has failed. VV-ECMO provides adequate tissue oxygenation and an opportunity for lung recovery. However, VV-ECMO remains contraindicated in patients with a risk of bleeding because of systemic anticoagulation during the treatment. The most important point is controlling the bleeding from severe trauma. CASE: A 32-year-old male experienced blunt trauma due to a traffic accident. He presented with bilateral hemopneumothorax and bilateral flail chest. We performed emergency thoracotomy for active bleeding and established circulatory stability. After surgery, the oxygenation deteriorated under mechanical ventilation, so we decided to establish VV-ECMO. However, bleeding from the bilateral lung contusions increased after VV-ECMO was established, and the patient was switched to heparin-free ECMO. After conversion, we could control the bronchial bleeding, especially the lung hematomas, and the oxygenation recovered. The patient was discharged without significant complications. VV-ECMO and mechanical ventilation were stopped on days 10 and 11, respectively. He was discharged from the ICU on day 15. CONCLUSION: When we consider the use of ECMO for patients with uncontrollable, severe bleeding caused by blunt trauma, it may be necessary to use a higher flow setting for heparin-free ECMO than typically used for patients without trauma to prevent thrombosis.

12-year experience of spontaneous hemopneumothorax.

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare clinical disorder that results from a torn small vessel located in adhesions between the visceral and parietal pleurae resulting from the progress of lung collapse. A large spontaneous hemopneumothorax is often life threatening, so the late recognition and delayed intervention can increase mortality rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 1994 to February 2006, a total of 983 patients were treated with spontaneous pneumothorax. Seventeen (1.7%) developed spontaneous hemopneumothorax. We analyzed many factors such as sex and age distribution, affected site, clinical symptoms, bleeding volume, causes, treatments, complications, and others. RESULTS: All 17 patients were males between the ages of 16 and 33 with the average being 19.5 years, except for 1 patient who was 60 years old. In all patients, it was the first occurrence of pneumothorax. Thirteen patients had a history of smoking (76.5%, average 8.6 pack-years). The amount of bleeding ranged from 450 to 2,900 mL (average 1,308.8 mL). Eight patients were given a homologous blood transfusion. In all patients, the cause of hemopneumothorax was a torn pleural adhesion band. All patients were treated with the closed thoracostomy; five were treated with only the closed thoracostomy, and the other 12 were treated by the thoracostomy combined with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or thoracotomy. One patient, who had had a thoracotomy, needed an exploratory thoracotomy because of a trapped lung after 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: We are reporting 17 patients with spontaneous hemopneumothorax to emphasize the following: (i) the mechanism of spontaneous hemopneumothorax, which was caused by a torn pleural adhesion band resulting from the lung collapse. The collapse was developed mainly by an air leak from ruptured bullae, and rarely by additional pressure from the outside during a drainage procedure. (ii) The importance of early recognition and prompt surgical intervention by VATS or thoracotomy. We preferred VATS to thoracotomy because it is easier to access the bleeding point near the Sibson's fascia by VATS, and it can reduce the loss of blood by relatively shorter operating time.

Severe haemophilia A in a neonate presenting as haemopneumothorax after tracheo-oesophageal fistula-oesophageal atresia repair.

A male infant with oesophageal atresia and distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TEF type C) underwent right thoracotomy and transpleural repair of TEF on day 4 of life. He did not have a family history of coagulation disorders. A preoperative finding of prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT)>200 s was overlooked, and he went to surgery. There were no concerns with haemostasis prior to and even during the operation. The prolonged PTT was treated with one 10 mL/kg dose of fresh frozen plasma in the immediate postoperative period. On the fourth postoperative day, the infant developed a right haemopneumothorax, requiring fresh frozen plasma and packed cell transfusions. He was subsequently diagnosed with severe haemophilia A due to intron 22 inversion in the factor VIII gene, with factor VIII level <0.01 IU/mL.