Needle thoracostomy
(Redirected from Needle decompression)
Indications
- Suspected tension pneumothorax needing immediate decompression
- Blunt chest trauma, shortness of breath, asymmetric lung sounds, deviated trachea, crepitance, hypotension
- Hemodynamically unstable
Equipment Needed
- 5cm 14 to 16 gauge IV needle/catheter
- 5 or 10mL syringe
Procedure
- Insert 5 cm 14 to 16 gauge IV needle catheter attached to syringe along superior margin of 2nd or 3rd rib in midclavicular line
- Evidence suggests lowest failure rate of needle decompression is at the 4th/5th rib space along the anterior axillary line [1]
- Advance needle until air is aspirated to syringe
- Withdraw needle
- Leave angiocatheter open to air
- Immediate rush of air out of chest = tension pneumothorax
- Follow immediately with standard thoracostomy tube
Complications
- Kinking of catheter
- Dislodgement
- Recurrence of tension pneumothorax
- Lung laceration
- Air embolism
See Also
External Links
References
- Roberts, 179
- Wolfson, 82, 129
- ↑ Laan DV et al. Chest Wall Thickness and Decompression Failure: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Coparing Anatomic Locations in Needle Thoracostomy. Injury 2015 [Epub Ahead of Print]. PMID: 26724173