Intraoperative contralateral tension pneumothorax during pneumonectomy.
Unrecognized tension pneumothorax can have catastrophic consequences. We report a case of a patient who developed a contralateral tension pneumothorax during thoracotomy without the classic signs of marked hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability. A tension pneumothorax should be considered in any patient who develops high peak inspiratory pressures during one-lung ventilation with an open chest, even in the absence of the classic signs of hypoxemia and hypotension.
Finlayson
Gordon N
GN
Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Chiang
Albert B
AB
Brodsky
Jay B
JB
Cannon
Walter B
WB
D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*