BACKGROUND The methods for managing chest drainage tubes during the postoperative period differ among thoracic surgeons and, as a result, the optimal method remains controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed 170 consecutive patients undergoing a pulmonary lobectomy for either primary lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer from January 1998 to December 2002. After the operation, the chest ...

Pleural infection with Clostridium difficile is extremely rare. A case of nosocomial empyema following chest drain insertion in a 46 year old man is described. The potential of C difficile to cause extra-intestinal infections should be recognised and its isolation from other sites should not be ignored.

Background/Introduction Pneumothorax can be a complication following chest drain removal. In thoracic surgery, access to the pleural cavity involves a pleurotomy. A chest drain is inserted to allow re-expansion of the lungs post-pleurotomy. This also prevents a tension pneumothorax. Some patients have a residual pneumothorax post-chest drain removal noted on chest radiography. Rates of pneumoth...

The objectives of this prospective, observational study were to determine the current indications of requesting chest radiograph in sick infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the effect of a user-guided request form for chest radiographs of sick infants. During the three-month study period, a total of 423 chest radiographs were requested on 159 sick newborn infants in the intensi...

INTRODUCTION Pleural drainage with chest tube insertion for thoracic trauma is a common and often life-saving technique. Although considered a simple procedure, complication rates have been reported to be 2-25%. We conducted a prospective cohort observational study of emergency pleural drainage procedures to validate the indications for pre-hospital thoracostomy and to identify complications fr...

BACKGROUND Emergent placement of a chest tube is a potentially life-saving procedure, but rate of misplacement and organ injury is up to 30%. In principle, chest tube insertion can be performed by using Trocar or Non-trocar techniques. If using trocar technique, two different chest tubes (equipped with sharp or blunt tip) are currently commercially available. This study was performed to detect ...

A patient with CD20(+) leukaemic lymphoplasmacytic Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) presented with bilateral malignant pleural effusions. Systemic chemotherapy, repeated percutaneous drainage and bilateral continous chest tube drainage were unable to control the effusions. Rituximab was instilled in a dose-escalating manner via the chest tubes into both pleural spaces, within two weeks the effusion...

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a life-threatening complication of an oropharyngeal infection that requires prompt and aggressive medical and surgical therapy. Herein, we report unusual case of man suffering of sub-acute mediastinal infection due to odontoiatric abscess which exacerbated at 3 months after its first presentation. Chest X-ray and CT scan demonstrated soft-tissue swelling ...

BACKGROUND Airway clearance is frequently needed by patients suffering from blunt chest wall trauma. High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) has been shown to be effective in helping to clear secretions from the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, emphysema, COPD, and many others. Chest wall trauma patients are at increased risk for ...

(CHEST 1999; 115:267–268) A 50-year-old woman develops a gradual deterioration in oxygenation shortly after single lung transplantation. This patient, with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, undergoes right lung transplantation for emphysema. The surgery performed through a right thoracotomy is uncomplicated and the patient is transferred to the ICU for recovery. Shortly after arrival, the nurses ...