Use of ultrasound to diagnose pneumothorax after video assisted thoracic surgery: Do we need to acquire a new skill?

• Main Authors: Surbhi D Mundada, Kundan S Gosavi, Bharti Kondvilkar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Anesthesia; diagnosis; pneumothorax; thoracic ultrasonography
• Online Access: http://www.saudija.org/article.asp?issn=1658-354X;year=2014;volume=8;issue=4;spage=550;epage=553;aulast=Mundada

Diagnosis of a pneumothorax in the immediate post-operative area can be difficult. Traditional gold-standard modalities may not be available or feasible to institute. Ultrasound (US) guidance allows the anesthesia provider a method of quickly detecting this potentially life-threatening complication especially when it′s least expected. We encountered such a case when a 40 years male patient posted for video assisted thoracic surgery for drainage of empyema on left side of chest developed pneumothorax on right side post-operatively. Timely diagnosis with the help of US saved time and his life. We thus want to emphasize the importance of this simple but useful skill to the anesthesiologist.