title: Pneumothorax following ERCP: report of four cases and review of the literature.
abstract: We report four patients with pneumothorax as a complication of ERCP with sphincterotomy. With conservative treatment all patients recovered. Previously, 16 comparable cases have been reported in the literature. The main risk factor for this rare complication seems (pre-cut) sphincterotomy. Pneumothorax is usually right-sided or bilateral and accompanied by pneumomediastinum, pneumoretroperitoneum and subcutaneous emphysema. The prognosis seems favourable with a non-surgical approach including intravenous antibiotics, fasting and when indicated chest tube drainage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Room Ha-203, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicolien J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Schepers
authors.forename: Henk R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: van Buuren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*