Open AccessThoracoscopic decortication for the management of trapped lung caused by 14‐year pneumothorax: A case report
Author(s) -
Tian Yan,
Zheng Wenqi,
Zha Nashunbayaer,
Wang Yufei,
Huang Shaojun,
Guo Zhanlin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.12770
Subject(s) - medicine , decortication , pneumothorax , lung , thoracic cavity , surgery , pleural cavity , radiology , thoracoscopy
Trapped lung is defined by the lung's inability to expand and fill the thoracic cavity because of a restricting “peel” caused by benign or malignant pleural disease. However, trapped lung secondary to pneumothorax is rarely reported. We present a case of trapped lung caused by a pneumothorax that occurred some 14 years before the patient presented to our hospital with a complaint of incapacitating dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed trapping of the right lung with abnormal thickening of the visceral pleura. In view of the patient's history of pneumothorax, we concluded that his dyspnea was attributable mainly to the trapping of his lung by the earlier pneumothorax. We therefore scheduled thoracoscopic decortication, which was successfully completed. The patient's recovery after the operation was uneventful, and seven weeks after surgery the right lung had re‐expanded well.