Open AccessA Fatal Case of Iatrogenic Bilateral Pneumothorax after Acupuncture
Author(s) -
Lam CW,
Ng CP,
Chung CH
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490790901600412
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumothorax , acupuncture , surgery , acupuncture needle , iatrogenic injury , anesthesia , alternative medicine , pathology
We report a case of fatal iatrogenic pneumothorax after acupuncture. A patient with motor neurone disease presented with shortness of breath after acupuncture. Bilateral pneumothoraces were detected. Bilateral chest drains were inserted. However, the patient succumbed 41 days after admission. On reviewing the literature, pneumothorax was not uncommonly seen after acupuncture, and most patients recovered uneventfully. However, fatal cases still happened.