Medially deployed thoracostomy tubes: cause of aortic obstruction in newborns

It was observed that severe aortic displacement, narrowing, and obstruction can occur when thoracostomy tubes abut the mediastinum. To further investigate this previously undescribed phenomenon, aortography was performed with intraluminal pressure measurements in newborn puppies and aortograms obtained in two infant cadavers. In the puppies, when the tube tip pressed against the descending thoracic aorta, aortic pressure below that site decreased and aortic arch pressure rose. When the tube tip pressed against the ascending aorta, pressures in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta decreased. Aortography in the puppies and infant cadavers demonstrated aortic displacement, narrowing, and obstruction when the thoracostomy tubes abutted the mediastinum. The clinical consequences of malpositioned thoracostomy tubes were observed in two premature infants. When the posteromedially deployed tubes were partially withdrawn, systolic arterial pressures, which had been exceptionally low, suddenly and significantly increased distal to the tube tip. Medially deployed thoracostomy tubes may represent a potential hazard to the newborn infant.