Table 2 Description of measurements
Measurement | Description |
|---|---|
Width of the intercostal space | From the inferior border of the superior rib to the superior edge of the inferior rib |
Chest Wall Thickness (CWT) | Skin to pleural space |
Depth to vital structure (DVS) | Skin to the intersection of the insertion line (see “directions of insertion”) with an intrathoracic vital structure (see Table 3) |
Intrapleural Safety Zone (ISZ) | Pleural space to the intersection with an intrathoracic vital structure (DVS – CWT), representing the intrathoracic distance to a vital structure |
Directions of insertion | |
Sagittal | Insertion in the sagittal plane |
Perpendicular | Insertion perpendicular to the chest wall |
Close | The closest vital structure to the point of insertion was identified visually. DVS was then measured from this point of reference to skin surface. |