Challenging chest drainage: a case report

Abstract

Introduction. Chest trauma is one of the most common causes of death corresponding to 20 to 25 % of cases. The majority of the patients (85%), can be managed with only a tube thoracostomy. Our objective by presenting this case report is to provide an example of how to manage a challenging chest tube thoracostomy in a patient with cardiac hernia diagnosed in the preoperative phase, based on signs of computed tomography. Case report. A 45-year-old male presented to our emergency department who fell from a light pole 7 meters high. He fell to the ground on his back. Physical examination revealed a huge subcutaneous emphysema on his entire anterior chest wall and presented no sensitivity or movements below the navel line. After the initial assessment and management care, the patient improved. As the patient stabilized we decided to go to CT. The scan revealed pericardial rupture with only the right pericardial circumference intact, the heart herniated into the left pleural space, bilateral pneumothorax, small right hemothorax and a relevant subcutaneous emphysema surrounding the chest. We decided to perform the blunt dissection technique to insert chest tubes bilaterally because of safety. After performed it the patient was transferred to cardiothoracic department. Discussion. There is a variety of techniques to perform tube thoracostomy but the blunt dissection remain the safer, especially when we are facing an anatomic distortion of the heart. Conclusion. We present a case report of a challenging thoracic drainage performed in a patient with traumatic cardiac hernia, which procedure was successful.