Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Hickman Catheter Use for Long-Term Vascular Access in a Preclinical Swine Model
Published on: March 31, 2023
Evaluation of a novel thoracic entry device versus needle decompression in a tension pneumothorax swine model
John Kuckelman1, Mike Derickson2, Cody Phillips2
1Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA; Trauma and Emergency Surgery Service, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA.
Introduction:
Tension pneumothorax (tPTX) remains a major cause of preventable death in trauma. Needle decompression (ND) has up to a 60% failure rate.
Methods:
Post-mortem swine used. Interventions were randomized to 14G-needle decompression (ND, n = 25), bladed trocar with 36Fr cannula (BTW, n = 16), bladed trocar alone (BTWO, n = 16) and surgical thoracostomy (ST = 11). Simulated tPTX was created to a pressure(p) of 20 mmHg.
Results:
Success (p < 5 mmHg by 120 s) was seen in 41 of 68 (60%) interventions. BTW and BTWO were consistently more successful than ND with success rates of 88% versus 48% in ND (p < .001). In successful deployments, ND was slower to reach p < 5 mmHg, average of 82s versus 26s and 28s for BTW and BTWO respectively (p < .001). Time to implement procedure was faster for ND with an average of 3.6s versus 16.9s and 15.3s in the BTW and BTWO (p < .001). Final pressure was significantly less in BTW and BTWO at 1.7 mmHg versus 7 mmHg in ND animals (p < .001).
Conclusion:
Bladed trocars can safely and effectively tPTX with a significantly higher success rates than needle decompression.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Tension
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Thoracic Aorta
The Thoracic Cage: Sternum
The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid...

