title: Case report: conservative management of a large capnothorax following laparoscopic renal surgery.
abstract: As indications for laparoscopy surgery continue to grow for management of upper urinary tract pathology, knowledge of the potential complications that may be encountered and their respective management are essential. Pneumothorax during laparoscopic renal surgery is typically related to a diaphragmatic injury that allows pressurized CO(2) to enter the thoracic cavity. The placement of a chest tube is usually required for large defects and symptomatic patients. However, in selected patients, with understanding of the favorable absorptive properties of CO(2), conservative management may be elected. We report a case of an asymptomatic, large pneumothorax that was allowed to resolve spontaneously, thus reinforcing the notion of noninvasive capnothorax management incurred during laparoscopic renal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Section of Urology, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Lambda P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Msezane
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Zorn
authors.forename: Ofer N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Gofrit
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Schade
authors.forename: Arieh L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shalhav
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide