Iatrogenic Perforation of the Left Ventricle Following Chest Drain Insertion

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com position of the drain across the heart (Figure 1). Bed side echocardiogram showed the drain traversing the left ventricle (Figure 2). Bubble study through the chest drain showed contrast bubbles inside the left ventricle confirming position of the drain and perforation of the left ventricle (Figure 3). The drain was kept in situ. She was taken to the operating theatre for an emergency left thoracotomy. It appeared that the drain was penetrating the left lung and the left ventricle (Figure 4).