A strange case of a tension pneumothorax

Pyopneumothorax with Stocker type III congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation in a 5-month-old infant

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is a rare, developmental, hamartomatous abnormality of the lung characterized by a cessation of normal bronchiolar maturation, resulting in cystic overgrowth of the terminal bronchioles. We report one such case of CCAM in a 5-month-old female infant who was in perfect health until she suffered from spontaneous pyopneumothorax with type III CCAM of the lung and recovered after lobectomy.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in a teenager with prior congenital pulmonary airway malformation

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously referred to as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), is a developmental malformation of the lower respiratory tract and the most commonly reported congenital lung lesion. Affected patients typically present with respiratory distress in the neonatal period from expanding cysts and resulting compression of surrounding lung parenchyma. However, some patients also remain asymptomatic until later in life. In this report, we present a case of CPAM requiring emergent left lower lobectomy at the first day of life that remained asymptomatic until the patient developed a spontaneous pneumothorax 18 years later. Our patient's presentation with an isolated spontaneous pneumothorax at age 18 does not appear to have been previously reported. In addition, there are several aspects of this case that represent atypical features of CPAM. After an extensive literature search, few reports exist describing any long-term complications of CPAM following neonatal lobectomy. Chest imaging in our patient demonstrated residual left basilar bullae and there was a moderate fixed obstructive/restrictive defect on pulmonary function testing. His risk for recurrent pneumothorax or infectious complications is unknown based on minimal published information on long-term outcomes or complications in patients with resected CPAM lesions. We conclude that follow up of all CPAM patients should include an evaluation for evidence of residual lung disease both with spirometric testing and chest imaging. Furthermore, concern for infectious complications or symptomatic obstructive lung disease should likewise be considered.

Life threatening tension pneumothorax during cardiac surgery. A case report

Tension pneumothorax is a life threatening condition that occurs when the intrapleural pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure. It requires prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment. Tension pneumothorax developing postoperatively after cardiac surgery is not uncommon but occurrence in the operating room during cardiac surgery is rare. We report a case of tension pneumothorax intraoperatively during off pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Subacute tension hemopneumothorax with novel electrocardiogram findings

This case report describes a patient with a subacute right-sided tension hemopneumothorax following an occult stab. The patient's electrocardiogram (ECG), performed as part of a standardized triage process, demonstrated significant abnormalities that misguided initial resuscitation, but resolved following evacuation of the tension hemopneumothorax. Tension pneumothorax is typically regarded as an immediately life-threatening condition that requires emergent management with needle or tube thoracostomy. However, we believe that subacute tension pneumothorax may be a rarely observed clinical phenomenon and may lead to unique ECG findings. We believe that the ECG changes we observed provided an early clue to the eventual diagnosis of a subacute tension pneumothorax and have not been previously described in this setting. .

Tension pneumothorax managed without immediate needle decompression

Standard medical reference texts state that the immediate life-saving treatment for tension pneumothorax is needle decompression. This article reports a case of an 85-year-old man with tension pneumothorax who was managed without performing immediate needle decompression. Emergency physicians should be aware of the proper management of such cases. There seems to be a growing body of evidence in the literature to suggest that in spontaneously breathing patients with tension pneumothorax, the rate of deterioration of this condition is much less rapid compared to ventilated patients, and the risks of performing needle decompression need to be balanced against the benefits of this procedure. In the absence of hemodynamic instability or severe respiratory insufficiency, the proper approach to managing such cases may be to carefully monitor the patient, promptly obtain portable chest radiography, and immediately perform chest tube drainage once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Tension pneumothorax--time for a re-think?

This review examines the present understanding of tension pneumothorax and produces recommendations for improving the diagnostic and treatment decision process.