title: Video-assisted thorascopic removal of migratory acupuncture needle causing pneumothorax.
abstract: We report the case of a 25-year-old African-American man presenting to the Henry Ford Hospital emergency department with acute dyspnea secondary to a pneumothorax resulting from a migratory acupuncture needle. The patient received acupuncture treatment approximately 5 years prior to this presentation for treatment of posttraumatic chronic right shoulder pain. Chest radiography revealed retained needles in his right shoulder girdle and a needle overlying the thoracic cage with an attendant pneumothorax. Catheter aspiration for simple pneumothorax provided immediate symptomatic relief. Video-assisted thoracoscopy was then used to remove the migratory acupuncture needle from the chest wall. The patient recovered without complication and was discharged to home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI.. Electronic address: vonriedenauer@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Wesley B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: von Riedenauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brewer
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000628:therapy; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed