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Ventilation induced pneumothorax following resolved empyema
Author(s) -
Nyman A.G.,
Sonnappa S.,
Prendiville A.T.,
Jaffe A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20684
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumothorax , empyema , anesthesia , complication , respiratory distress , surgery , respiratory disease , ventilation (architecture) , lung , mechanical engineering , engineering
We report a case of pneumothorax as a result of positive pressure ventilation in a child previously treated for empyema. Three months following discharge for successful treatment of empyema our patient received a general anesthetic for an elective MRI of the brain for investigation of nystagmus. During recovery from the anesthetic he developed respiratory distress and was found to have a loculated pneumothorax. We propose that pleural fragility in childhood empyema possibly persists even after clinical resolution and in this case for up to 3 months. The complication of pneumothorax should be considered in all patients receiving positive pressure ventilation following resolved empyema. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:99–101. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.