Haemothorax after attempted intercostal catheterisation.

Dangoisse, M; Collins, S; Glynn, C J · Anaesthesia · 1994

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 30-year-old man with chronic abdominal pain was referred to the Pain Relief Unit after a course of unsuccessful diagnostic blocks and treatments. On admission, history, examination and clinical investigations were consistent with a large pleural effusion due to a recent attempt to catheterise the intercostal space. Pleural drainage confirmed the diagnosis of haemothorax. Percutaneous intercostal nerve blocks are usually considered as safe and simple and no-one to our knowledge has reported such a complication.

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