Insertion Related
- Intercostal vessel laceration and haemothorax
- Lung parenchyma perforation
- Perforation of visceral organs (lung, heart, oesophagus, diaphragm, and intraabdominal organs)
- Interfissural - usually does not affect outcome
- Chest wall insertion - unstable chest wall injuries, hurried insertion
- Chylothorax - late complication due to injury to thoracic duct
Position Related
- Drain dislodgment - can be reduced by meticulous technique and good anchorage
- Non-functional (Kinked, clotted) - can result in tension pneumothorax
- Subcutaneous emphysema - associated with prolonged drainage, poor tube placement and side port migration
- Post-removal pneumothorax - can be reduced by good removal technique
Infective
- Empyema
- Insertion site wound infection
Nerve Injury
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Phrenic nerve injury
- Horner's Syndrome
Other
- Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema - uncommon but mortality up to 20%