Appraisal of the endotracheal tube as an alternative to the intercostal catheter

Abstract

Table 1. Recorded times, blood drained and catheter observations for the insertion of left ICC and right ETT for the pneumothorax sheep, and left ETT and right ICC for the haemothorax sheep

Algorithm for the resuscitation of traumatic cardiac arrest patients in a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service

“…An open thoracostomy also allows for complete lung re-expansion and easy thoracic reassessment. Cuffed tracheal tube insertion into the open thoracostomy should be considered when there is difficulty in maintaining patency due to excessive soft tissues [23]. The authors' opinion is that all TCA patients with chest injuries should have bilateral open thoracostomies to proactively exclude tension pneumothoraces.…”

Use of tracheal tubes as intercostal catheters

“…Dear Editor, We write in response to two previous letters advocating the use of a tracheal tube (TT) as an intercostal catheter (ICC). 1,2 The method of placing a bougie in the intercostal space and then over-riding with a TT and adding a Heimlich valve appears to hold many advantages. It negates the need for a finger sweep (and hence the risk to the operator from sharp fractured rib edges) and does not require suturing (as the inflated cuff holds the TT in place), making it quicker to insert and is less amenable to kinking.…”

“…Dear Editor, Kelly et al are to be commended for studying the health service implications of people who present to EDs with symptomatic breathlessness, rather than studying the underlying disease(s) that are coded as a result of the ED consultation. 1 They are taking an important step to ask: why do patients come to the ED with breathlessness, and what happens to them?…”

In response to EMA December 2010 –‘Appraisal of the endotracheal tube as an alternative to the intercostal catheter’ by Dr RG Beer and colleagues

“…Dear Editor, I write in response to the Letter to the Editor in the December issue of Emergency Medicine Australasia 'Appraisal of the endotracheal tube as an alternative to the intercostal catheter' by Beer and colleagues. 1 I find their study very interesting indeed, because this technique has been practised in the Philippines. I originally came from there, where I was a first-year surgical pre-resident trainee, and have performed the procedure on actual patients in our rural ED back in 1995.…”

“…I write in response to the Letter to the Editor in the December issue of Emergency Medicine Australasia ‘Appraisal of the endotracheal tube as an alternative to the intercostal catheter’ by Beer and colleagues 1 …”