Diagnosing Intraoperative Pneumothorax in Patients Undergoing Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Useful Clinical Sign

Intraoperative pneumothorax during breast reconstruction can be difficult to diagnose. Even a small pneumothorax can become a tension pneumothorax under positive pressure ventilation. The clinical finding of venous congestion in a pedicled latissimus dorsi flap, which could not be explained by probl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Reekie, David McGill, Elizabeth Marshall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Surgery
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/308485
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Intraoperative pneumothorax during breast reconstruction can be difficult to diagnose. Even a small pneumothorax can become a tension pneumothorax under positive pressure ventilation. The clinical finding of venous congestion in a pedicled latissimus dorsi flap, which could not be explained by problems with the vessels, preceded other signs of a tension pneumothorax in the case presented here. Given the difficulties of access to the chest by the anaesthetic team during breast procedures, this has the potential to be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of this potentially serious intraoperative complication.
ISSN:2090-6900
2090-6919