Resumen Introducción. El traumatismo torácico es una de las causas más comunes de muerte y corresponde al 20 a 25 % de los casos. La mayoría de los pacientes (85 %) pueden tratarse solo con toracostomía. Nuestro objetivo al presentar este informe de caso es proporcionar un ejemplo de cómo manejar una toracostomía desafiante en un paciente con hernia cardíaca, diagnosticada en la fase preoperatoria, basada en signos de tomografía computarizada. Presentación del caso. Paciente masculino de 45 años que ingresa a nuestro departamento de emergencias luego de caída de 7 metros de altura (poste de luz), cayendo de espaldas al suelo. El examen físico reveló un enfisema subcutáneo importante en todo el tórax anterior y sin sensibilidad ni movimientos debajo de la línea del ombligo. Después de la evaluación y atención inicial el paciente mejoró y se decidió realizar una tomografía computarizada que reveló la rotura pericárdica, con solo la circunferencia pericárdica derecha intacta, el corazón herniado en el espacio pleural izquierdo, neumotórax bilateral, pequeño hemotórax en el lado derecho y enfisema subcutáneo rodeando completamente el tórax. Se escogió una técnica de disección roma para insertar el tubo torácico en ambos hemitórax, debido a su mayor seguridad. Posteriormente, el paciente fue trasladado al departamento de cirugía cardiotorácica. Discusión. Existe una variedad de técnicas para realizar una toracostomía con sonda, pero la disección roma sigue siendo la más segura, especialmente cuando enfrentamos una distorsión anatómica del corazón. Conclusión. Presentamos el caso de un drenaje torácico desafiante practicado a un paciente con hernia cardíaca traumática, con éxito.

Abstract Introduction. Chest trauma is one of the most common causes of death corresponding to 20 to 25 % of cases. The majority of the patients (85%), can be managed with only a tube thoracostomy. Our objective by presenting this case report is to provide an example of how to manage a challenging chest tube thoracostomy in a patient with cardiac hernia diagnosed in the preoperative phase, based on signs of computed tomography. Case report. A 45-year-old male presented to our emergency department who fell from a light pole 7 meters high. He fell to the ground on his back. Physical examination revealed a huge subcutaneous emphysema on his entire anterior chest wall and presented no sensitivity or movements below the navel line. After the initial assessment and management care, the patient improved. As the patient stabilized we decided to go to CT. The scan revealed pericardial rupture with only the right pericardial circumference intact, the heart herniated into the left pleural space, bilateral pneumothorax, small right hemothorax and a relevant subcutaneous emphysema surrounding the chest. We decided to perform the blunt dissection technique to insert chest tubes bilaterally because of safety. After performed it the patient was transferred to cardiothoracic department. Discussion. There is a variety of techniques to perform tube thoracostomy but the blunt dissection remain the safer, especially when we are facing an anatomic distortion of the heart. Conclusion. We present a case report of a challenging thoracic drainage performed in a patient with traumatic cardiac hernia, which procedure was successful.

Resumen Introducción. Durante muchos siglos, las heridas del corazón se consideraron fatales. Actualmente, el trauma cardíaco sigue siendo una de las lesiones más letales. Los resultados de pacientes con lesión cardíaca penetrante pueden variar de lesiones letales a arritmias que se resuelven espontáneamente. El hemopericardio en el trauma generalmente es debido a la lesión cardíaca penetrante, pero el saco pericárdico puede llenarse de sangre de grandes vasos y de la ruptura de la arteria pericardiofrénica asociada a laceración pericárdica contusa. Métodos. Para la organización de este estudio, se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en la literatura científica. Dos casos fueron observados por el equipo de Cirugía General al describir este raro mecanismo de trauma. Resultados. Descripción de una causa diferente de hemopericardio, ocasionada por la sangre de la cavidad peritoneal. Discusión. En los casos presentados, la lesión por arma de fuego rompió la barrera entre las cavidades pericárdica y peritoneal (diafragma), colocando cavidades con diferentes niveles de presión , favoreciendo la entrada de sangre de la cavidad peritoneal al saco pericárdico. Conclusión. En los casos observados el proyectil pasó muy cerca del corazón, pero sin lesionarlo. La ruptura de la superficie diafragmática del pericardio permitió que la presión de la cavidad peritoneal se igualara con la presión del pericardio.

Abstract Introduction: For many centuries heart wounds were considered fatal. Currently cardiac trauma remains one of the most lethal injuries. The results of patients with penetrating cardiac injury (PCI) can range from lethal lesions to arrhythmias that resolve spontaneously. Haemopericardium in trauma is usually due to penetrating cardiac injury, but the pericardial sac may fill with blood from large vessels and rupture of the pericardiophrenic artery associated with pericardial contusion laceration. Methods: For the organization of this study, a literature review was performed. Two cases were identified by the general surgery team in describing this rare mechanism of trauma. Results: Description of a different cause of hemopericardium, caused by blood from the peritoneal cavity. Discussion: In the cases presented, the firearm injury broke the barrier between the pericardial and peritoneal cavities (diaphragm), placing cavities with different pressure levels in contact, favoring the entry of blood from the peritoneal cavity into the pericardial sac. Conclusion: In the observed cases the projectile passed very close to the heart, but without injury it. Rupture on the diaphragmatic surface of the pericardium allowed the pressure of the peritoneal cavity to be equal to the pressure of the pericardium.

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION What has been published so far regarding safe methods to deal with chest tube insertion during COVID-19. METHODS A descriptive study of the literature available in the Medline/PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus databases and specialized books. The search was carried out using the terms “infectious diseases”; “COVID-19”; “Chest tubes”. RESULTS This paper aggregates and consolidates some old concepts to new tactics to minimize the contamination of teams who deal with chest tubes, before, during, and after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Health officials are under increasing pressure to control the spread of COVID-19, which is a very virulent disease. Our analysis brought together old rules against contamination along with new tactics for professionals who deal with chest drains in order to minimize the contamination of teams during the Pandemic.

Resumo Introdução: O enfisema subcutâneo é uma condição clínica que ocorre quando o ar entra nos tecidos sob a pele. Isso pode ocorrer em qualquer parte do corpo, dependendo do tipo de patologia. O local mais comum é sob a pele que cobre a parede torácica ou o pescoço. É caracterizado por inchaço indolor de tecidos. O sinal clínico clássico é a sensação de crepitação quando se toca a região afetada, assemelhando-se à sensação de se tocar uma esponja. Objetivo: Descrever uma nova maneira de diagnosticar enfisema subcutâneo. Método: Este achado foi uma serendipidade, caracterizada por inspeção clínica de pacientes com enfisema subcutâneo com uso de estetoscópio. Além da auscultação do tórax do paciente, o estetoscópio foi suavemente pressionado contra a pele com enfisema subcutâneo, sendo possível detectar um ruído diferente. Resultados: Essa nova maneira de diagnosticar enfisema subcutâneo consiste em pressionar o diafragma do estetoscópio contra a pele do paciente supostamente afetada por enfisema subcutâneo, sendo possível ouvir o ruído de pequenas bolhas estourando. O ruído de crepitações tem uma energia de emissão acústica que varia de 750-1.200 Hz, considerada alta frequência. Conclusão: Atualmente, o uso de métodos de imagem é generalizado em todo o mundo, mas gostaríamos de fortalecer o valor do exame clínico. Embora a ausculta seja um método de diagnóstico essencial, foi subestimado à medida que os cuidados de saúde e os medicamentos avançaram. Propomos uma maneira diferente de diagnosticar enfisema subcutâneo.

Summary Introduction: Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) is a clinical condition that occurs when air gets into soft tissues under the skin. This can occur in any part of the body depending on the type of pathology. The most common site is under the skin that covers the chest wall or neck. It is characterized by painless swelling of tissues. The classic clinical sign is a crackling sensation upon touch, resembling that of touching a sponge beneath your fingers. Objective: To describe a new way to diagnose subcutaneous emphysema. Method: Our finding was a matter of serendipity while inspecting a patient with subcutaneous emphysema using a stethoscope. Instead only hearing the patient's chest, the stethoscope was gently pressed against the skin with SE and so we were able to detect a different sound. Results: This new way to diagnose subcutaneous emphysema consists in pressing the diaphragm part of stethoscope against the patient's skin where SE is supposed to be. Thus, we are able to hear a sound of small bubbles bursting. Crackle noise has an acoustic emission energy that varies between 750-1,200 Hz, considered high frequency. Conclusion: Although currently the use of imaging methods is widespread worldwide, we would like to strengthen the value of clinical examination. Auscultation is an essential diagnostic method that has become underestimated with the advances of healthcare and medicine as a whole. We therefore propose a different approach to diagnose SE.