Predictors of outcome of chest tube drainage of nonpurulent exudative pleural effusions.

Background: Although chest tube drainage is the primary management method for many pleural effusions, it has a failure rate of 9.4-48%. In this study, we examined the factors that predict the outcome of management of nonpurulent exudative effusions.

Management of tension gastrothorax: experience from sub-Saharan Africa.

Tension gastrothorax is a form of obstructive shock resulting from increased intrathoracic pressure due to a distended herniated stomach. The clinical features of tension gastrothorax are similar to the clinical features of the more common tension pneumothorax. Clinical recognition of this trauma has remained difficult especially in the tropics where most responders are not specialists.