Bilateral pneumothorax after unilateral transthoracic puncture

Abstract

Pneumothorax is a common complication following transthoracic interventional procedures. Most often, this occurs unilaterally on the side of the intervention. Bilateral pneumothorax following unilateral puncture is rare, but may mandate emergent chest tube insertion. We describe two cases in which bilateral pneumothorax occurred after unilateral thoracic puncture. One patient had a history of esophageal resection, while the other had no history of thoracic surgery.