Two unexpected deaths from pneumothorax.
Two patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax died despite intensive treatment. In the first the pneumothorax had been present for 10 days, and, after insertion of a chest drain, pulmonary oedema developed unilaterally, followed by cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated, but later died of a tension pneumothorax on the other side, probably due to cardiac massage and artificial ventilation. In the second patient, after insertion of a chest drain, mediastinal emphysema spread to the head and neck, causing fatal obstruction of the hypopharynx.
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012151:Resuscitation