Intercostal drainage tube or intracardiac drainage tube?

• Main Authors: N Anitha, S Ganesh Kamath, Edison Khymdeit, Manjunath Prabhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Chest drain tube; Intercostal drainage tube; Intracardiac drainage tube
• Online Access: http://www.annals.in/article.asp?issn=0971-9784;year=2016;volume=19;issue=3;spage=545;epage=548;aulast=Anitha

Although insertion of chest drain tubes is a common medical practice, there are risks associated with this procedure, especially when inexperienced physicians perform it. Wrong insertion of the tube has been known to cause morbidity and occasional mortality. We report a case where the left ventricle was accidentally punctured leading to near-exsanguination. This report is to highlight the need for experienced physicians to supervise the procedure and train the younger physician in the safe performance of the procedure.