Pneumothorax in association with spontaneous ventilation general anaesthesia--an unusual cause of hypoxaemia.
A 43-year-old ASA PS II male patient developed a pneumothorax while breathing pontaneously through a supraglottic airway device during a general anaesthetic. Unexplained hypoxaemia occurred after an episode of coughing. Clinical examination appeared to be normal apart from the persistent oxygen desaturation. A pneumothorax was diagnosed in the post anaesthesia care unit by chest X-ray. The pneumothorax responded to conventional management and the patient made an uneventful recovery. We recommend a high index of suspicion in any patient who coughs and later has unexplained hypoxaemia during general anaesthesia, even if a supraglottic airway device has been inserted.
Choy
M C K
MC
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Northern Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Pescod
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods