Perforation of the right ventricle: a complication of blind placement of a chest tube into the postpneumonectomy space.

Abstract

We were asked to review a case from an outside hospital in which there was inadvertent perforation of the right ventricle during the percutaneous placement of a chest tube. We present the case in the hopes that by doing so, others will avoid such a complication in the future. After reviewing the case, it appeared that the complication occurred because the physician was not knowledgeable about the anatomy of the postpneumonectomy space and the physician failed to use the safest procedure in placing the tube.