Needle thoracostomy conclusions.

摘要

I read with interest the needle thoracos-tomy cadaver study and the accompanying editorial comments. In their study, the authors demonstrated a 100% success rate of reaching the pleura (and presumably a tension pneumothorax, if present) in 20 predominantly male cadavers of unknown age and weight and found a higher success rate with a 5 cm needle in a midaxillary site compared with the traditional midclavicular site. The editorial view was that this study "conclusively" demonstrated that the midaxillary site is the "safer and easier" site and that ATLS guidelines should be modified accordingly. If "safer and easier"was intended to refer to success (because no data were presented specifically regarding safety or ease), then it should be noted that success in their study design may not translate to success in the field due to differences in the body habitus of cadavers compared with trauma victims that the authors themselves mentioned as limitations.