Korean J Anesthesiol.  2007 Jul;53(1):132-135. 10.4097/kjae.2007.53.1.132.

Tension Carbon Dioxide Pneumothorax Developed during Laparoscopic Partial Hepatectomy: A case report

• Lee HM
• Lee YC
• Kim JM

• KMID: 2238312
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2007.53.1.132

Abstract

Pneumothorax is a rare and potentially serious complication that can be occurred during laparoscopic surgery. This is a case report of a 34-year-old man who underwent elective laparoscopic partial hepatectomy under general anesthesia. About 45 min after carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum, hypotension, tachycardia, decreased oxygen saturation, increased peak inspiratory pressure, increased end-tidal CO2 tension, hypercapnia, and hypoxemia were suddenly developed. Altering for the worse vital sign was owing to tension pneumothorax by accidental CO2 influx through inadvertently perforated diaphragm. Repairing diaphragm under open laparotomy, positive manual bagging was effectively applied enough not to require surgical drainage. Therefore, closed observation and careful monitoring is essential to prevent tension pneumothorax during laparoscopic surgery.

Keyword

carbon dioxide; complication; laparoscopy; tension pneumothorax

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anesthesia, General
Anoxia
Carbon Dioxide*
Carbon*
Diaphragm
Drainage
Hepatectomy*
Humans
Hypercapnia
Hypotension
Laparoscopy
Laparotomy
Oxygen
Pneumoperitoneum
Pneumothorax*
Tachycardia
Vital Signs
Carbon
Carbon Dioxide
Oxygen