Mini Review
Winkle B1* and Nair L2
Abstract
Insertion of an Intercostal Catheter (ICC) is an accepted treatment for a pneumothorax (primary, secondary, traumatic or iatrogenic), haemothorax, pleural effusion or post thoracic surgery. Reinsertion of an ICC is the most common complication of removal, primarily due to recurrence of a pneumothorax. There are many guidelines for when to remove an ICC and criteria that must be met to reduce incidence of recurrent pneumothorax. However there is a significant lack of discussion regarding the exact procedure to remove an ICC, with specific focus on the stage of breathing required.