INTRACTABLE CHEST PAIN IN A PATIENT WHOSE POSTPNEUMONECTOMY SPACE WASMANAGED WITH SULFUR-HEXAFLUORIDE

A 50-year-old man who had undergone right pneumonectomy 1 year previou sly was referred to our department following the sudden onset of sever e chest pain. Since the operation, his postpneumonectomy space had bee n managed with sulfur hexafluoride. On admission, the pressure in the postpneumonectomy space was found to be more than +60 cmH2O. The chest pain was relieved after the sulfur hexafluoride had been drained and the pressure released. Thus. it is advisable to inject sulfur hexafluo ride stepwise into the postpneumonectomy space of patients with long-s tanding fluid accumulation.