Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  1997 Nov;30(11):1128-1131.

Perforation of IVC by Chest Draings Tube: Report A Case

• Chung WS
• Moon DS
• Lee DY

Abstract

Injuries to vena cava continue to be associated with a high mortality. Essentials to successful treatment are immediate recognition of the injury and prompt control of the hemorrhage. We have experienced one case of inferior vena cava perforation by a chest drainage tube in the patient with post-operative chronic empyema thoracis. The patient was 38-year old male who was taken RLL lobectomy after 6 cycle of chemotherapy due to small cell carcinoma in the RLL and suffered from post-operative chronic empyema thoracis at D hospital. He moved to our hospital for further evaluation with accidental removal of chest drainge tube. We inserted closed drainage tube and dark blood gushed out abruptly just after insertion of the drainage tube. CTscan, MRI, and angiogram were performed and showed the perforation of IVC just below RA. The IVC was repaired using simple interrupted 4-0 Prolene suture through right posterolateral thoracotomy. The patient recovered without event and doing well until now.

Keyword

Thoracostomy; Vena cava, inferior

MeSH Terms

Adult
Carcinoma, Small Cell
Drainage
Drug Therapy
Empyema
Hemorrhage
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Mortality
Polypropylenes
Sutures
Thoracostomy
Thoracotomy
Thorax*
Vena Cava, Inferior
Polypropylenes