Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax with congenital pleuro-pleural communication.
A single pleural space can lead to serious simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax in cases of congenital or acquired pleuro-pleural communication. Here we report a 35-year-old man with bilateral pneumothorax. Chest computed tomography scans revealed a small air space between the esophagus and aorta, suggesting pleuro-pleural communication. Bilateral thoracoscopic bullectomy was performed. Repeated inspection revealed a 2-cm-long pleural window between the aorta and esophagus, which was closed with a collagen patch. Although congenital pleuro-pleural communication has been regarded as rare, as many as nine patients have been reported (if suspected cases are included). The lower middle mediastinum should be carefully inspected.
Department of Surgery, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; ; Department of Chest Surgery, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan;
Yoshinobu
Y
Hata
Takashi
T
Suzuki
Masahide
M
Yokoi
Shuji
S
Yoshida
Teruaki
T
Takeyama
Haruhiro
H
Nakazaki
Hidenori
H
Goto
Fumitomo
F
Sato
Keigo
K
Takagi
Hajime
H
Otsuka
Bilateral pneumothorax; buffalo chest; pleuro-pleural communication; single pleural space