Mediastinal window: a cause of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax.
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.
Juvonen
T
T
Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
Lepojärvi
M
M
Pokela
R
R
Juvonen
J
J
Kairaluoma
M I
MI
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography