Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports

ISSN 2766-7820
Case Report - Open Access, Volume 2

Chest tube telltale: A miraculous injury

Mohamed Shafi Bin Mahboob Ali & Ahmad Zuhdi Mamat

Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.

*Corresponding Author: Mohamed Shafi Bin Mahboob Ali & Ahmad Zuhdi Mamat
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
Email: [email protected]

Received : May 19, 2021

Accepted : Jun 28, 2021

Published : Jun 30, 2021

Archived : www.jcimcr.org

Copyright : © Mahboob Ali MSB & Mamat AZ (2021).

Citation: Mahboob Ali MSB, Mamat AZ. Chest tube telltale: A miraculous injury. J Clin Images Med Case Rep. 2021; 2(3): 1213.

Short report

A 35-years-old man with an underlying lymphoma presented with the complaint of progressive dyspnea. The left hemithorax was dull on percussion with a significant reduce air entry. Chest x-ray showed a total ‘white-out’ of the left hemithorax suggestive of pleural effusion. A medical officer inserted a left chest tube with the sharp trochar provided. After the puncture, he noticed a rapid flow of frank blood. Otherwise, patient’s vital sign was stable. An urgent CT showed the tip of the tube was a milimetres into the interventricular septum. Fortunately, the chest tube dislodged after the patient ambulated. He was monitored in the ICU and an ECHO was done which showed a normal heart function. He was referred to the interventional radiologist for pig-tail drainage. He was discharged the following week. Chest tube insertion using a sharp trochar should not be recommended as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Figure 1: Chest tube telltale.

Figure 2: Chest tube telltale.

Figure 3: Chest tube telltale.