Stab to second intercostal space: a bubbling extrapleural wound

Continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block after pleurectomy.

A randomised, double blind trial was carried out in 16 patients undergoing pleurectomy to assess the effect of continuous extrapleural intercostal block on postoperative pain and pulmonary function. Subjective pain relief was assessed on a linear visual analogue scale. Pulmonary function was measured on the day before operation and daily for five days after surgery. Eight patients received bupi...

A penetrating orbitocranial stab wound.

An unusual case of intracranial penetration of a bread knife through the orbit is described. Despite the proximity of the blade to the internal carotids, the optic nerves and chiasm, and the pituitary the patient survived with only a minimal field defect affecting the eye opposite to the entry site; otherwise no neurological or endocrine deficit was evident.

Complex cardiac stab wound.

Stab Wound of Enlarged Spleen

Pneumomediastinum following a stab wound to the chest.

1 of 2 DESCRIPTION Pneumomediastinum (PM) relates to air collection around the mediastinal structures. It is classifi ed into spontaneous PM, without any obvious primary source, and secondary PM, with a specifi c responsible pathologic event, such as trauma, intrathoracic infections or violation of the aerodigestive tract. 1 The prevalence of PM in major trauma centres ranged from 1% to 5.2% of...