Percutaneous tube nephrostomy (PTN) placement is associated with bleeding complications in a small proportion of cases. We study a case of inadvertent renal vein catheterization during PTN tube change with catheter right atrial migration treated by fluoroscopically monitored catheter removal.

OBJECTIVES To assess the complications of ventilation tubes that were retained in children for 2 years or longer and the necessity of removal. DESIGN A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent ventilation tube removal from 1997 to 2000, with the exclusion of patients with craniofacial anomalies. SETTING A tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS One hundred twenty-six childr...

PURPOSE Prolonged air or fluid chest tube drainage may delay chest tube removal in thoracic surgery patients otherwise ready for discharge. We reviewed 20 months of experience at our institution with postoperative, outpatient chest tube management using a new portable chest tube device. DESCRIPTION From May 2003 to December 2004, 457 major thoracic procedures were performed at our institution...

The use of a T-tube to drain the biliary tree after choledochotomy has been a common surgical practice. Inadvertent fracture of the T-tube limb during removal is a rare occurrence which can lead to several complications. We report a case of cholangitis caused by a T-tube fragment retained in the common bile duct 36 years after cholecystectomy.

A synthetic tracheostomy tube [non-metallic type] fracturing within three days of insertion is very rare but it could lead to serious complications such as acute asphyxia or sudden death. We report three such cases at our centre. Recommendations are made to closely observe patients on tracheostomy tube in the first seven days post-insertion of the tube.

Tracheostomy tube fracture resulting in airway obstruction is a relatively rare but serious complication. We report the case of a 48-year-old man whose tracheostomy tube fractured and became lodged in the right primary bronchus. Recommendations are made for tracheostomy care to help prevent similar complications in patients with an indwelling tracheostomy tube.

BACKGROUND Nasogastric tube insertion may be difficult in anesthetized and intubated patients with head in the neutral position. Several techniques are available for the successful insertion of nasogastric tube. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the first attempt success rate of different techniques for insertion of nasogastric tube. Secondary aim was to investi...