Citation

Wisdom K, Nowak RM, Richardson HH, Martin GB, Obeid FN, Tomlanovich MC. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1986; 15(4): 428-432.

Erratum On

Ann Emerg Med 1986 Nov;15(11):1377

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3954177

Abstract

Traumatic pneumothorax is a common complication of the IV drug abusers in Detroit who utilize the "pocket shot" (the central approach to the internal jugular vein). Fourteen patients who sustained a total of 16 pneumothoraces (two with bilateral collapse) and who underwent catheter aspiration of a simple pneumothorax (CASP) were studied prospectively. The sizes ranged from less than 10% to 100%. In addition, there was one tension pneumothorax and one pneumomediastinum. The 16 CASP procedures produced 13 successful lung expansions (82%). The remaining three were treated with tube thoracostomy and admission. Twelve of the 13 patients in whom the procedure was successful returned for followup, and all of these had 100% continued full expansion. CASP appears to be a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective treatment for the drug abuser with simple traumatic pneumothorax. With the current pressures of cost containment, this less-invasive approach with outpatient management should be studied as initial potential treatment for any simple pneumothorax.

Language: en