Case report of tension pneumothorax related to acupuncture

Summary Although recent prospective studies came to the conclusion that the incidence of adverse events following acupuncture can be classified as minimal, many cases of acupuncture-related pneumothorax have been published over the years, among them some cases of tension pneumothorax. In this case,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society 2004-03, Vol.22 (1), p.40-43
Main Author: Peuker, Elmar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acupuncture Therapy - adverse effects
Adult
Chest Pain - etiology
Dyspnea - etiology
Female
Humans
Pneumothorax - diagnostic imaging
Pneumothorax - etiology
Pneumothorax - therapy
Radiography
Risk Factors
Time Factors
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Summary:Summary Although recent prospective studies came to the conclusion that the incidence of adverse events following acupuncture can be classified as minimal, many cases of acupuncture-related pneumothorax have been published over the years, among them some cases of tension pneumothorax. In this case, a slender woman received acupuncture from a fully trained medical acupuncturist including needling of the points LU1 in the subacromial region and BL13, which is a paravertebral point at the level of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra. During the final treatment, she experienced difficulties in breathing and pain in the left chest. On x ray examination a tension pneumothorax was diagnosed. Even though pneumothorax is the most frequently reported serious complication related to acupuncture, it is not an inevitable complication of acupuncture, and in most cases involves negligence from inadequate consideration of basic anatomy.
ISSN:0964-5284
1759-9873
DOI:10.1136/aim.22.1.40