List Archives

Fri Apr 7 20:33:52 BST 2006

-----Original Message-----
From: kokaramc at bellsouth.net [mailto:kokaramc at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 2:47 PM
To: Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list
Subject: Re: Re: Clamp the the chest tube in an EMS placed chest tube

" ...for every 500ml of blood out of the chest tube, mortality significantly
increases..."

Then for crying out loud, what are you letting all that blood out for?   :]

" ...(Prehospital EMS) cant totally verify a PTX/HTX without an xray... " 

Waitwaitwait -- you recommend an x-ray before treating tension pneumothorax?
That's the only indication for prehospital thoracostomy, at least where I
work.

" ...and we sort of see enough PTX already caused by unnecessary needle
decompressions in the field."

Honest?  What are your sort of numbers?  

I admit I've seen a few unjustifiable needlings; but I can't recall a
significant needle-related injury -- certainly nothing to force to
eliminating the option.  In rural America, tension pneumo isn't an injury
which tolerates neglect.

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

Clamp the the chest tube in an EMS placed chest tube