title: Intraoperative contralateral tension pneumothorax during pneumonectomy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Gordon N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Jay B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Walter B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Cannon
mesh_terms: 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*