Prolonged Weaning after Iatrogenic Diaphragmatic Injury due to Chest Tube Malposition

Article information

Trauma Image Proced. 2017;2(2):69-71

Publication date (electronic) : 2017 November 21

doi : https://doi.org/10.24184/tip.2017.2.2.69

Department of Surgery, Trauma Center, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea

Correspondence to: Dong Hun Kim, Department of Surgery, Trauma Center, Dankook University Hospital, 201 Manghyang-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam 31116, Korea Tel: 82-41-550-7661, Fax: 82-41-550-0039, E-mail: saint7331@gmail.com

Received 2017 April 19; Revised 2017 June 19; Accepted 2017 June 23.

Abstract

Diaphragmatic paralysis is a rarely recognized complication of chest tube malposition and most of cases are reported in neonates and children. We described the implementation of tracheostomy for prolonged weaning after right diaphragmatic injury resulted from chest tube malposition in the right subdiaphragmatic space. A 39-year-old woman was diagnosed with multiple pelvic bone fracture, right pneumothorax with multiple rib fracture, and cerebral contusion due to fall accident. Chest X-ray showed an elevation of right diaphragm after removal of the malpositioned chest tube.

Keywords: Malposition; Chest tube; Diaphragmatic paralysis

CASE

A 39-year-old woman was admitted with 8m-height falling injury by a local hospital. She underwent orotracheal intubation and right thoracostomy in the local hospital. Upon arrival, she was in a stupor with hypotension. The injury severity score was 29. The Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma showed no intraabdominal fluid collection and no sliding sign in the right lung. Supine chest X-ray showed that the right chest tube was located in the upper right abdomen (Fig. 1). Abdomen computed tomography scan revealed a right chest tube malposition in the right subdiaphragmatic space caused penetrating hepatic injury (Fig. 2). After the chest tube reposition following removal of the chest tube in right abdomen, Supine chest X-ray showed the elevation of the right diaphragm (Fig. 3A). Mechanical ventilator was maintained for several days and weaning of ventilator was failed three times due to the difficulty of cough, excessive tracheal secretion, and right lung collapse waxed and waned. Tracheostomy was performed in hospital day 15 (Fig. 3B). As coughing was gradually improved, weaning of tracheostomy was successfully performed in hospital day 37.

Fig. 1.

Supine chest radiography shows right chest tube (arrow) is inserted into upper right abdomen.

Fig. 2.

Abdomen computed tomography scan shows that (A) chest tube (arrow) locates in right subdiaphragmatic space, and (B) there is a penetrating injured mark (arrow) in the Couinaud segment 7 and 8 due to chest tube.

Fig. 3.

Supine chest radiography shows (A) the elevation of right diaphragm after adjusting position of the chest tube following removal of chest tube in abdomen, (B) the consistent elevation of right diaphragm after tracheostomy in hospital day 15.

DISCUSSION

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis may be traumatic, tumor-related, iatrogenic, or idiopathic. This may substantially decrease partial pressure of oxygen and the breathing capacity, but not intrinsically lethal [1]. Diaphragmatic paralysis is an extremely rare complication resulting from a diaphragmatic injury owing to chest tube malpositioned into the abdomen, and most of cases are reported in neonates and children [2]. Chest tube placement is a common procedure in trauma patients, as we should be fully aware of closed thoracostomy, complications like this are entirely avoidable. A typical tube thoracostomy is placed in the 4-5th interspace at the anterior axillary line and the correct position of chest tube tip is at least 2cm distant from the spine [3].

Notes

Conflict of Interest Statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Elefteriades J, Singh M, Tang P, Siegel MD, Kenney B, Pandey A, et al. Unilateral diaphragm paralysis: etiology, impact, and natural history. J Cardiovasc Surg 2008;49(2):289–95.

2. Hwang MS, Chu JJ, Su WJ. Diaphragmatic paralysis caused by malposition of chest tube placement after pediatric cardiac surgery. Int J Cardiol 2005;99(1):129–31.

3. Gulati MS, Wafula J, Aggarwal S. Chilaiditi's sign possibly associated with malposition of chest tube placement. J Postgrad Med 2008;54(2):138–9.

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Fig. 1.

Supine chest radiography shows right chest tube (arrow) is inserted into upper right abdomen.