Contralateral tension pneumothorax following unilateral chest tube drainage of bilateral pneumothoraces in a heart-lung transplant patient

Authors
Lee, YC McGrath, GB Chin, WS Light, RW
Citation
Yc. Lee et al., Contralateral tension pneumothorax following unilateral chest tube drainage of bilateral pneumothoraces in a heart-lung transplant patient, CHEST, 116(4), 1999, pp. 1131-1133
Citations number
3
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Journal title
CHEST
ISSN journal
00123692 → ACNP
Volume
116
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1131 - 1133
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-3692(199910)116:4<1131:CTPFUC>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Bilateral pneumothoraces can result-from unilateral air leak after heart-lu ng transplantation. The recommended initial management of such patients is insertion of a unilateral chest tube. We report patient who developed bilat eral pneumothoraces after undergoing transbronchial biopsies 2 years after a heart-lung transplant. The unilateral chest tube failed to drain the cont ralateral pneumothorax and a tension pneumothorax developed. The advocated approach should be used with caution.