Table 3.
Comparison of the expected failure rate and the incidence of severe complications with different needle lengths.
| Needle lengths | Number of failures (n/all) | Number of severe complications (n/all) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| second ICS-MCL | fifth ICS-MAL | second ICS-MCL | fifth ICS-MAL | |
| 5 cm | 10/272 | 48/272 | 2/272 | 5/272 |
| 7 cm | 1/272 | 13/272 | 15/272 | 10/272 |
| P | 0.011 | 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.295 |
P values of the Fisher's exact test are shown in the table. Second ICS-MCL, second intercostal space at the midclavicular line; fifth ICS-MAL, fifth intercostal space at the midaxillary line.