Numerous Deaths Reported Following Thoracentesis and Chest Tube Insertion Procedures

Study In Springer Nature Reveals Numerous Adverse Outcomes, Including Death, After Thoracentesis and Chest Tube Insertion Procedures

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (January 23, 2025) – A new study published in the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery reveals numerous deaths linked to thoracentesis and chest tube insertion procedures.

Thoracentesis and chest tube insertions are commonly performed procedures in emergency medicine. They are designed to remove fluid or air from specific sections of a body.

Thoracentesis is used when the removal is only needed temporarily. On the other hand, chest tube insertions are performed to provide continuous drainage.

In many cases, a patient may need a chest tube insertion due to severe trauma that may impede breathing. According to the study, the most common injuries during the procedure were lung injuries and thoracic vascular injuries.

In all, 15 deaths were reported during the study period from January 2010 to April 2020. Medical experts generally accept that the best option in the case of accidental perforation with the tube is to keep the tube clamped until the patient is in the operating room.

If a physician prematurely removes the test tube before a patient is in the operating room, the patient could end up dying.

Liability for Injuries During Thoracentesis and Chest Tube Insertion Procedures

Surgical errors are one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury for medical patients. According to one study in the bmj, “Adverse events were identified in more than one third of patients admitted to hospital for surgery, with nearly half of the events classified as major and most potentially preventable. These findings emphasize the critical need for ongoing improvement in patient safety, involving all health professionals, throughout perioperative care.” Physicians should take several steps in order to reduce the likelihood of fatal errors during thoracentesis and chest tube insertion procedures.

• Physicians should conduct a thorough patient evaluation prior to any procedure. They should look at any potential underlying medical conditions that their patient may have.
• Physicians should check the patient’s coagulation status. These should be within safe limits.
• Physicians should ensure that patients are properly positioned for thoracentesis or chest tube insertion. In most situations, patients will need to be propped up or lying on their back.
• Physicians should rely on real-time, guidance from ultrasound during thoracentesis or chest tube insertion.

Hospitals and physicians have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps in order to prevent harm to their patients. When a hospital or physician fails to exercise due care and injures a patient, this could form the basis of a medical malpractice claim. A malpractice claim does not involve all instances where a patient is harmed under the care of a physician. The relevant question is whether or not the hospital or physician deviated from the acceptable standard of care, which then resulted in the harm. There are a number of ways that a physician’s actions may have deviated from an acceptable standard of care during a thoracentesis or chest tube insertion procedure.

• A physician may have failed to wash their hands and allowed bacteria to contaminate instruments.
• A physician may have used instruments that were not properly cleaned and disinfected.
• A physician may have failed to use chest x-rays or ultrasound in order to guide the procedure.
• A physician may have removed a chest tube insertion prior to when it was safe to do so in an operating room.
• A physician may have removed too much fluid in the impacted area, which can lead to further complications.

It can be hard to know where to begin if your loved one has been harmed during thoracentesis or any other medical procedure. These incidents can leave victims feeling helpless. In many situations, the affected party survives and may be left with lifelong injuries that require extensive corrective surgeries. Many of the victims may never be able to return to their previous profession. They could also be left with high medical bills. It is important for victims of medical malpractice to understand that they do have rights. Any person who is injured due to the negligence of a hospital or physician should seek the legal guidance of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Getting Legal Help for Medical Malpractice During Thoracentesis and Chest Tube Insertion Procedures

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. were very concerned to hear about the deaths and injuries involving thoracentesis and chest tube insertion procedures. It is our sincere hope that hospitals will implement checklists and safety guidelines designed to prevent the most common instances of malpractice. Many of these deaths and injuries could easily be prevented when doctors simply follow accepted standard guidelines.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed due to the negligence of a hospital or physician? You may have legal recourse. Our team of New York medical malpractice attorneys is here to help in any way we can. We are committed to getting malpractice victims justice and holding healthcare providers accountable for their misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.