Pneumothorax has been described as a complication of a fractured clavicle only three times. It is an important and potentially serious complication. This case report describes a fractured clavicle complicated by a significant pneumothorax which required chest drain insertion.

Pressure on working hours has led to a decrease in opportunities for training in invasive medical procedures for junior doctors. The effect of a structured course on immediate and medium-term changes in self-reported confidence was investigated. A one-day model-based practical course was run on two separate occasions teaching central venous line placement, lumbar puncture, Seldinger-technique c...

OBJECTIVE To address the clinical consequences related to chest tube clogging, a novel chest drainage apparatus, the PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System (Clear Catheter Systems, Bend, OR), was developed. The aim of this world's first clinical experience study was to follow clinicians using the PleuraFlow system to assess usability issues and potential areas of improvement in the heart surge...

CMAJ © 2010 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors 1 A54-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis following liver transplantation presented with shortness of breath and was found to have a right-sided pleural effusion secondary to pulmonary infection. A pigtail drainage tube was inserted guided by computed tomography. The procedure was complicated by the development of a massive hemopneu...

A chest roentgenogram demonstrates lumen collapse as the cause of ventilatory obstruction in an intubated patient. This problem is not restricted to defective tubes but may be caused by overinflation of the cuff in normal tubes. D espite the impressive record of endotracheal tubes as guardians of an unobstructed airway, human and mechanical failure causing these devices to become dangerous site...

BACKGROUND Placing chest tubes to water seal is superior for patients with an air leak, but when a patient has a pneumothorax and an air leak the best chest tube setting is unknown. METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective database on a consecutive series of patients who had a pneumothorax and air leak on the same day. Patients underwent elective pulmonary resection by one su...