BACKGROUND: The use of prehospital chest tube thoracostomy (TT) remains controversial because of presumed increased complication risks. This study analyzed infectious complication rates for physician-performed prehospital and emergency department (ED) TT. METHODS: Over a 40-month period, all consecutive trauma patients with TT performed by the flight physician at the accident scene were compared with all patients with TT performed in the emergency department. Bacterial cultures, blood samples, and thoracic radiographs were reviewed for TT-related infections. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients received prehospital TTs and 101 patients received ED TTs. Infected hemithoraces related to TTs were found in 9% of those performed in the prehospital setting and 12% of ED-performed TTs (not significant). CONCLUSION: The prehospital chest tube thoracostomy is a safe and lifesaving intervention, providing added value to prehospital trauma care when performed by a qualified physician. The infection rate for prehospital TT does not differ from ED TT.
BACKGROUND: The use of prehospital chest tube thoracostomy (TT) remains controversial because of presumed increased complication risks. This study analyzed infectious complication rates for physician-performed prehospital and emergency department (ED) TT. METHODS: Over a 40-month period, all consecutive traumapatients with TT performed by the flight physician at the accident scene were compared with all patients with TT performed in the emergency department. Bacterial cultures, blood samples, and thoracic radiographs were reviewed for TT-related infections. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients received prehospital TTs and 101 patients received ED TTs. Infected hemithoraces related to TTs were found in 9% of those performed in the prehospital setting and 12% of ED-performed TTs (not significant). CONCLUSION: The prehospital chest tube thoracostomy is a safe and lifesaving intervention, providing added value to prehospital trauma care when performed by a qualified physician. The infection rate for prehospital TT does not differ from ED TT.
Authors: Matthew C Hernandez; Moustafah El Khatib; Larry Prokop; Martin D Zielinski; Johnathon M Aho Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2018-08 Impact factor: 3.313
Authors: Rachel Strauss; Isabella Menchetti; Laure Perrier; Erik Blondal; Henry Peng; Wendy Sullivan-Kwantes; Homer Tien; Avery Nathens; Andrew Beckett; Jeannie Callum; Luis Teodoro da Luz Journal: Trauma Surg Acute Care Open Date: 2021-10-19