title: Pneumothorax secondary to acupuncture therapy.
abstract: A 27-year-old medical student seeking acupuncture therapy for a right levator scapular muscle spasm developed acute dyspnea, chest pain, and nonproductive cough within minutes following the treatment. The patient was later diagnosed with a 30% pneumothorax of the right lung. Pneumothorax is a well-known adverse effect of medical procedures such as central line placement, thoracocentesis and transbronchial lung biopsy. This case illustrates another iatrogenic cause of pneumothorax--acupuncture-induced pneumothorax. A review of the literature since 1985 reveals nine case reports of acupuncture-induced pneumothorax.
authors.affiliation: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chauffe
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Duskin
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D015505:Chest Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013035:Spasm / Q000628:therapy