INTRODUCTION Thoracostomy tubes (TT) are commonly placed in the management of surgical, emergency, and trauma patients and chest radiographs (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) are performed to confirm placement. Ultrasound (US) has not previously been used as a means to confirm intrathoracic placement of chest tubes. This study involves a novel application of US to demonstrate chest tubes passi...

1 Scheinbaum KR, Bakal CW, Jacobson HG. Chest pain in a debilitated postoperative patient. Chest 1991; 100:1447-48 2 Roubenoff R, Ravich WJ. Pneumothorax due to nasogastric feeding tubes: report of four cases, review of the literature, and recommendations for prevention. Arch Intern Med 1989;149:18488 by contact with the clavicle may have caused it to enter the vein. The coil-spring, anchored i...

Recognition of a difficult airway prior to the use of lung • isolation devices is essential. Radiological studies must be reviewed, including a poste• rior–anterior chest radiograph and computer tomography scan of the chest. Securing the airway first is a must in patients with difficult • airways requiring lung isolation. The use of an independent bronchial blocker is the first-line • choice in...

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether routine chest radiography is indicated following chest drain removal in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. A total of 356 papers were found using the reported searches; of which, 6 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, date, journal, study type,...

Carestream has implemented companion views in its digital radiography systems. A companion view is designed to complement the standard processed radiographic image delivered from the digital radiography capture modality to PACS, to provide an additional rendering tailored for the visual interpretation needed for a specific diagnostic or clinical purpose. Two companion views are available in Car...

Few trials to guide clinical management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) exist. This study aims to reveal current practice in the management of PSP in Switzerland, to define the level of consensus and to provide evidence in guiding clinical practice. Questionnaires were sent to 355 departments of internal medicine and surgery in Switzerland and 114 (32.1%) were available for analysis. ...

Thrombelastography (TEG) correlates with postoperative chest drain output in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In vitro incubation with heparinase allows TEG monitoring during CPB, despite heparin anticoagulation. Hypothermia impairs coagulation, but these effects cannot be assessed by standard coagulation tests performed at 37 degrees C. The aim of this study was to assess the ...

A 62-year-old woman developed shock immediately after the insertion of a right-sided chest tube. A chest roentgenogram showed the chest tube to be overlying the heart and possibly compressing the right ventricle. An animal model was developed to replicate this clinical situation. Using a domestic goat model pulmonary artery, peripheral arterial catheters were inserted along with a right sided c...