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Case Reports
. 2009:2009:745713.
doi: 10.1155/2009/745713. Epub 2009 Nov 5.

Bilateral pneumothoraces following central venous cannulation

F Pazos  1 , K Masterson, C Inan, J Robert, B Walder
Affiliations
Case Reports

Bilateral pneumothoraces following central venous cannulation

F Pazos et al. Case Rep Med. 2009.

Abstract

We report the occurrence of a bilateral pneumothoraces after unilateral central venous catheterization of the right subclavian vein in a 70-year-old patient. The patient had no history of pulmonary or pleural disease and no history of cardiothoracic surgery. Two days earlier, she had a median laparotomy under general and epidural anaesthesia. Prior to the procedure, the patient was hemodynamically stable and her transcutaneous oxygen saturation was 97% in room air. We punctured the right pleural space before cannulation of the right subclavian vein. After the procedure, the patient slowly became hemodynamically instable with respiratory distress. A chest radiograph revealed a complete left-side pneumothorax and a mild right-side pneumothorax. The right-side pneumothorax became under tension after left chest tube insertion. The symptoms finally resolved after insertion of a right chest tube. After a diagnostic work-up, we suspect a congenital "Buffalo chests" explaining bilateral pneumothoraces and a secondary tension pneumothorax.

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