A Case of Bilateral Pneumothorax after Acupuncture in the Back Neck and Chest / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

We treated a case with bilateral pneumothorax. A 58-year-old woman was treated with acupuncture on the back, neck and chest for poor general condition, and later complained chest discomfort and respiratory difficulty. She was transferred to our center. Her consciousness was clear, blood pressure was 200/110mmHg, pulse rate was 151/minute, respiration rate was 36/minute, and she presented with a cold sweat with no cyanosis, as well as respiratory sounds in both sides of her chest. Cardioechography and electrocardiogram showed no abnormality, and blood examination showed few abnormalities except leukocytosis. Arterial blood gas analysis showed pH 7.215, PaO2 118.7mmHg, and PCO2 63.9mmHg. We made a diagnosis of bilateral pneumothorax upon chest x-ray examination with information from her previous clinic, and performed bilateral thoracic drainage. Arterial blood gas then improved to pH 7.326, PaO2 181.6mmHg, and PCO2 42.8mmHg. She became asymptomatic, recovered, and was discharged on the 13th hospital day. Commonly a patient, who has complications such as pneumothorax after acupuncture therapy, is managed by doctors other than acupuncture therapists. The management of complications after acupuncture therapy is thought insufficient, and under-developed. It is necessary to qualify informed consent, and to better establish cooperation between acupuncture therapists and doctors who managing such complications.