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Traumatic pneumothorax with malpositioned intercostal catheter

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Motorbike accident.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male

Moderately-sized right pneumothorax. The right intercostal catheter (ICC) is kinked and coiled within the chest wall and not in the pleural space. No significant mediastinal shift. Patchy airspace opacities in the right lung. Displaced right 7th rib fracture.

Case Discussion

The ICC was removed and a new tube inserted correctly, which drained the pneumothorax successfully.

The right lung opacities were proven to be pulmonary contusions on subsequent CT.

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