…a needle due to reduced risk of injury. Thoracostomy should be performed promptly following needle decompression. Thoracostomy with drainage typically serves as a stabilizing intervention…

…safe triangle (Figure 1). Outside it the risk of injuring the diaphragm, liver, spleen or internal thoracic artery increases. For diagnostic aspiration the point chosen…

…either via the subxiphoid or apical window, is generally considered less effective than thoracotomy. This is because it does not ensure complete drainage of the…

…of the abscess or at least half its diameter. Too small an incision is the commonest technical error. 4. Cut straight into the cavity with…

…which is the commonest cause of recurrence. Indications Condition Procedure : : Acute paronychia with fluctuance or visible pus Incision and drainage Acute paronychia without pus formation…

…and always urgent. A large pericardial effusion with symptoms despite medical treatment. Diagnostic drainage in suspected purulent pericarditis, tuberculosis or malignancy. Tamponade is a clinical…

…equipment A laryngeal mask of the correct size plus one size above and one below. Second generation masks with a separate drainage channel (i gel…

…intracranial hypertension. Therapeutic drainage in idiopathic intracranial hypertension and in assessment before shunt surgery. Contraindications Clinical signs of herniation — deep unconsciousness with unreactive pupils, an…

…admission of a patient with known ascites. Clinical deterioration in a cirrhotic patient with ascites: fever, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, rising creatinine, gastrointestinal bleeding, leucocytosis or…

…retention. Chronic urinary retention with renal impairment or a large residual volume. A need for accurate measurement of urine output in a critically ill patient…