title: Mediastinal window: a cause of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax.
abstract: A case of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax with critical collapse of both lungs in a previously healthy 19-year-old woman is described. A congenital defect of mediastinal septum was suspected on the basis of roentgenographic findings and confirmed by right-sided thoracotomy. This mediastinal window between the pleural spaces allowed air leaking from a ruptured right lung apical bulla to collapse not only the right lung but also the left. Apical TA stapler resection and right-sided parietal pleurectomy was performed to prevent recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepojärvi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pokela
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kairaluoma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography