Bile leaks after T-tube removal are a frequent cause of morbidity in orthotopic liver transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to determine factors that predict the development of these leaks in liver transplant recipients. Records of all patients who had undergone liver transplantation at the University of Washington Medical Center between January 1990 and September 1993 were reviewed....

Currently no tool exists to assess proceduralist skill at chest tube insertion. As inadequate doctor procedural competence has repeatedly been associated with adverse events, there is a need for a tool to assess procedural competence. This study aims to develop and examine the validity of a tool to assess competency at insertion of a chest tube, using either the Seldinger technique or blunt dis...

A quick and simple technique for securing a chest tube in the prehospital setting is described. The technique makes use of a plastic tie with a self-locking mechanism that is wrapped around the tube and sutured to the skin. The use of a plastic tie is recommended as a valuable component to chest tube kits for use in the prehospital setting.

Chest tube insertion is generally considered a safe procedure. We describe a patient who developed winging of the scapula following chest tube insertion. This complication has not been documented before.

BACKGROUND Many patients have a nasogastric feeding tube inserted during admission; however, misplacement is not uncommon. In this case report we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first documented fatality from pressure pneumothorax following nasogastric tube withdrawal. CASE PRESENTATION An 84-year-old Caucasian woman with dysphagia and at risk of aspiration underwent routine insert...

Abstract Background: Prolonged effusions post-Fontan procedure are associated with morbidity. Fontan patients have higher pro-inflammatory cytokines in chest tube drainage compared to controls. Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory medication, decreases adults after cardiac surgery. We hypothesised that treated colchicine would decreased cytokine levels and shorter duration of drainage. Methods: Thi...

BACKGROUND In this meta-analysis, we conducted a pooled analysis of clinical studies comparing the efficacy of single chest tube versus double chest tube after a lobectomy. METHODS According to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration, we established a rigorous study protocol. We performed a systematic electronic search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science datab...

BACKGROUND Prolonged pleural effusion following Fontan operation is common and increases morbidity and hospital length of stay. Vasopressin (VP), a neurohypophysial hormone, has numerous effects on the cardiovascular system. The most notable is increased peripheral vascular resistance, but it may also reduce capillary leakage by tightening endothelial intercellular junctions and reducing capill...

The patient was a 10-yr-old girl who was brought to the operating room to undergo appendectomy. Except for 1 week of abdominal pain and mild nausea but no vomiting, her history was negative. There were no previous anesthetics, environmental or drug allergies, recent upper respiratory infection, or reactive airway disease. No one in her household smoked. She weighed 62 kg and was 138 cm tall. Ex...