title: Surgery of a nocardia lung abscess presenting as a tension pyopneumothorax.
abstract: While some cases of nocardial pneumonia develop secondary empyema, tension pyopneumothorax is a very rare and lethal complication. A 74-year-old man who exhibited thrombocytopenia during steroid therapy for autoimmune hepatitis, presented to our department with a nocardial tension pyopneumothorax. He underwent a left lower lobectomy after chest drainage, and was discharged without any complication other than reoperation to remove a postoperative hematoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Anti-infective agents; Lung abscess; Nocardia infections; Pneumonectomy; Pneumothorax; Thrombocytopenia