Contralateral pneumothorax following thoracotomy for vertebrectomy

Thoracoplasty and contralateral pneumothorax.

In certain instances of bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis it is a frequent practice to recommend induction of an artificial pneumothorax (A.P.) to control disease on one side when indications for thoracoplasty on the other side are clear cut. A number of writers over the last 16 years have pointed out the extra risk and added danger of operating with a contralateral A.P. present, but have not sp...

What is the risk of subsequent contralateral spontaneous pneumothorax following surgical management of a unilateral pneumothorax?

Contralateral pneumothorax after pneumonectomy for carcinoma.

Fortunately, contralateral pneumothorax occurs rarely after pneumonectomy. This complication was detected during the immediate postoperative period in four of 340 patients having pneumonectomy for carcinoma at the Ochsner Clinic from January 1942 through June 1958. To our knowledge delayed pneumothorax has not occurred in any of the remaining patients. This lends support to the impression that ...

Video-assisted thoracoscopy versus open thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax.

This retrospective study was designed to compare the contribution of the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open thoracotomy in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). The medical records of 100 patients with recurring or persisting (SP) treated were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: group I treated by thoracotomy while in group II (VATS) was used. There...

A surgical intervention using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support for contralateral pneumothorax following pneumonectomy.

We here, describe a 63-year-old man presenting with a contralateral pneumothorax following pneumonectomy. After setting up a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) system in advance in preparation for hypoxemia during the operation, resection of bullae was performed. His oxygen saturation and hemodynamic status were stable intraoperatively and we achieved a successful and safe operation sw...