Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2010 Dec;43(6):816-819.

Horner's Syndrome: A Rare Complication of Tube Thoracostomy: A case report

• Choi JW
• Kim JH
• Yoo BS
• Kang CH
• Kim YT

Abstract

We report one case of Horner's syndrome, a rare complication of closed thoracostomy. A 17 year-old girl with a second attack of left side primary spontaneous pneumothorax visited an emergency room. After closed tube thoracostomy, she was admitted to a general ward for elective video-assisted thoracosopic bullectomy, which was delayed due to incidental right side acute otitis media. On the third day of admission, she presented with pain and discomfort in the left eye. Further examination revealed left side ptosis and miosis and led to a diagnosis of Horner's syndrome. The chest tube was pulled back 2 to 3 cm for repositioning. After two days she underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy and mechanical pleurodesis and was discharged at postoperative day 7. Symptoms and signs of Horner's syndrome gradually resolved, and she had fully recovered at the 2 month postoperative outpatient follow-up.

Keyword

Pneumothorax; Chest tubes; Horner's syndrome

MeSH Terms

Chest Tubes
Emergencies
Eye
Follow-Up Studies
Horner Syndrome
Humans
Miosis
Otitis Media
Outpatients
Patients' Rooms
Pleurodesis
Pneumothorax
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
Thoracostomy
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds