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Haemothorax after attempted intercostal catheterisation
M Dangoisse1, S Collins, C J Glynn
1Oxford Regional Pain Relief Unit, Churchill Hospital, Headington.
Anaesthesia
|November 1, 1994
Abstract:
A 30-year-old man with chronic abdominal pain was referred to the Pain Relief Unit after a course of unsuccessful diagnostic blocks and treatments. On admission, history, examination and clinical investigations were consistent with a large pleural effusion due to a recent attempt to catheterise the intercostal space. Pleural drainage confirmed the diagnosis of haemothorax. Percutaneous intercostal nerve blocks are usually considered as safe and simple and no-one to our knowledge has reported such a complication.