Pneumothorax after central venous cannulation via the infraclavicular axillary vein--a case report
Wu, Y-Cheng.; Chen, C-Liang.; Lin, I-Li.; Chung, Y-Tai.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwanica Official Journal of the Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists 43(2): 105-108
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1875-4597 PMID: 16060406 Document Number: 587894
It has ever been reported that central venous cannulation via the infraclavicular axillary vein (IAV) could cause pneumothorax. However, recently at our hospital, a 66-year-old female patient undergoing craniectomy for brain tumor sustained pneumothorax after cannulation of the IAV for intraoperate monitoring. The complication was not recognized until a postoperative chest X-ray had been taken. The departmental panel on morbidity reviewed the anatomy of the infraclavicular area to explore the possible causes of the incident. As to prevention of pneumothorax, we also bring forward some important points for discussion that have not been discoursed in previous reports.