A Retrospective Analysis of Needle Thoracostomies at a Level 2 Trauma Center-Sarthak Biren Parikh

Co-Authors: Sarthak Parikh DO, Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma Research Fellow, Saint Francis Health System Tulsa OK; Maryavis Howell MSN, TCRN, CEN, CPHRM, Director of Trauma Services, Saint Francis Health System Tulsa OK; Hung-Wen Yeh, Division of Health Services and Outcomes Research Children's Mercy Kansas City; Many Cheruvu, PhD, Manager, Clinical Research Clinical Research and Sponsored Programs Saint Francis Health System Tulsa OK; John Shellenberger MD Saint Francis Health System Tulsa OK.
Introduction: A tension pneumothorax is a condition that results in an elevated pressure within the pleural space leading to lung compression, mediastinal shift, decreased venous return and ultimately cardiovascular collapse. The 2nd ICS MCL is the most commonly used decompression location; however some literature suggests that catheters placed in the 2nd ICS MCL are prone to have higher failure rates compared to the 5th ICS MAL (42.5% versus 16.7%, respectively).
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