Rapid atrial fibrillation following tube thoracostomy insertion

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 461 - 462
• Main Authors: Barak, Michal, Iaroshevski, Dmitri, Ziser, Avishai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Science B.V 01.09.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Atrial Fibrillation - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chest trauma; Chest Tubes - adverse effects; Chest X-ray; Device Removal; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Multiple Trauma - surgery; Rapid atrial fibrillation; Thoracic Injuries - surgery; Thoracostomy - adverse effects; Tube thoracostomy; Tube thoracostomy; Chest trauma; Rapid atrial fibrillation; Chest X-ray; Tube; Radiodiagnosis; Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation; Insertion; Exploration; Cardiovascular disease; Thorax; Trauma; Excitability disorder; Chest trauma: Tube thoracostomy; Radiography; Treatment; Heart disease; Surgery
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1010-7940(03)00331-2

We report a case of trauma patient, whose heart rhythm and rate changed from sinus tachycardia to rapid atrial fibrillation. The change occurred immediately after the insertion of left thoracostomy tube. The patient did not respond to pharmacological treatment. Only when the tube was pulled out, the rhythm returned to sinus. Chest radiogram shows the position of the tube, in close proximity to the cardiac silhouette.