Appropriate Needle Length for Emergent Pediatric Needle Thoracostomy Utilizing Computed Tomography.

CONCLUSION: Median chest wall thickness varies little by height or location in children <13 years of age. The standard 5-cm needle is twice the chest wall thickness of most children. Commercially available 14g or 16g standard-length 3.8cm (1½ inch) needles are of adequate length to access the pleural cavity, regardless of height as measured by Broselow LBT. PMID: 30624127 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Prehospital Emergency Care - Category: Endocrinology Tags: Prehosp Emerg Care Source Type: research