Control of bleeding from intercostal artery laceration

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Thoracic Surgery
• Interventional Pulmonology

Background:

• Intercostal artery laceration is a rare but severe complication following pleural procedures like thoracentesis.
• Delayed recognition often leads to hemodynamic decompensation, necessitating aggressive interventions such as embolization or thoracotomy.

Observation:

• The literature review revealed no documented cases of manual pressure applied to the pleural space for intercostal arterial hemorrhage.
• This study presents the first video evidence of direct pressure effectively controlling intercostal arterial bleeding.

Findings:

• Direct manual pressure applied to the intercostal site provides immediate and definitive cessation of arterial hemorrhage.
• This method is simple, rapid, and effective in managing post-pleural procedure bleeding.

Implications:

• Direct pressure offers a potentially life-saving, minimally invasive first-line treatment for intercostal artery laceration.
• This technique could reduce the need for more invasive procedures and improve patient outcomes in thoracic emergencies.