Open AccessBilateral Pneumothoraces Secondary to latrogenlc Buffalo Chest
Author(s) -
Gilbert R. Schorlemmer,
Roger K. Khouri,
Gordon F. Murray,
George Johnson
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198403000-00021
Subject(s) - medicine , venipuncture , pneumothorax , surgery , complication , median sternotomy , subclavian vein , general surgery , catheter
Pneumothorax following subclavian venipuncture is a well-known risk. Less well recognized is the potential for life-threatening bilateral pneumothoraces occurring at the time of subclavian vein catheterization in patients who have previously undergone median sternotomy. Inadvertent bilateral pleural entry at the time of sternotomy may result in a common pleural space which subsequently places the patient in special jeopardy when the complication of pneumothorax occurs. This report documents the successful management of this important sequence of complications associated with now widely applied therapeutic interventions.