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Case Reports
. 2022 Nov 16;2022(11):rjac496.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjac496. eCollection 2022 Nov.

An unusual case of a tension pneumothorax

Bassam Redwan  1 , Robert Kirstein  2 , Volkan Kösek  1 , Burkhard Thiel  1 , Hubert Zirngibl  3 , Björn Schmitz  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

An unusual case of a tension pneumothorax

Bassam Redwan et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

A total intra-thoracic stomach describes the case of a complete herniation of the stomach into the thoracic cavity. Symptoms may vary from mild to an acute life-threatening situation in case of perforation or bleeding, requiring emergency surgery. Here we describe the case of a gastric perforation leading to a tension pneumothorax and concomitant pleural empyema due to a giant hiatal recurrence after previous surgery. Multidisciplinary management involving thoracic surgeons helped in achieving the best clinical outcome for the patient.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest/abdomen computed tomography showing a new recurrence with complete up-side-down stomach and compression of the left lower lung lobe.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chest X-ray showing a large left-sided tension seropneumothorax with a right-sided mediastinal shift. Chest CT-scan after insertion of a chest tube.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Intraoperative finding with the gastric perforation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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