Case Report: Minimally invasive management of suspected active bleeding from intercostal vessel after axillary thoracotomy ventricular septal defect repair: an application of Foley catheter

TL;DR

A case report describes using a Foley catheter to stop bleeding from an intercostal vessel after heart surgery through an axillary thoracotomy.

Contribution

Presents a minimally invasive, practical method for managing postoperative intercostal vessel bleeding using a Foley catheter.

Findings

Active bleeding from an intercostal vessel was successfully controlled using a Foley catheter.

The method is proposed as a viable option for managing similar postoperative complications.

The approach is minimally invasive and avoids the need for reoperation in selected cases.

Abstract

The right axillary thoracotomy, an alternative approach for selected open-heart procedures, offers aesthetic advantages. However, intercostal vessel injury is a potential postoperative complication that can lead to major bleeding. Herein, we report a case of postoperative active bleeding from intercostal vessel injury after right axillary thoracotomy for ventricular septal defect repair. Hemorrhage was successfully halted by compressing the suspected bleeding site with a Foley catheter inserted through the chest wall. This case demonstrates a simple management method of active intercostal vascular bleeding after cardiac operation. It may be an appropriate option in selected postoperative patients with a high index of suspicion of intercostal vascular bleeding after operation via a thoracotomy approach.

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