Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax is a medical condition defined by the buildup of air in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation of air can lead to partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in a range of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical presentation and effective management strategies is crucial for healthcare professionals in providing timely and appropriate care to individuals with pneumothorax.
Clinical Manifestations:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Neonatal Case of Fetal Pleural Effusion Caused by Cor Triatriatum Dexter with Postnatal Worsening of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

Pediatric cardiology·2026

Same author

Tepotinib-induced interstitial lung disease in a patient with adenosquamous lung carcinoma.

Respiratory medicine case reports·2026

Same author

Symptomatic Pulmonary Regurgitation Without Right Ventricular Enlargement Accompanied by Biventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and Related Diseases.

Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society·2026

Same author

Cancer-Specific Antihuman Podoplanin Antibody chLpMab-2f Exerts Antitumor Effects Against Pleural Mesothelioma.

Cancer science·2026

Same author

Acute Empyema due to <i>Gemella morbillorum</i> Following COVID-19 in an Otherwise Healthy Middle-Aged Man.

Respirology case reports·2026

Same author

Slow-growing venous malformation in a 92-year-old man, mimicking axillary lymphadenopathy.

Journal of rural medicine : JRM·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Published on: September 1, 2023

Chylothorax caused by acupuncture.

Mami Inayama¹, Tsutomu Shinohara, Hiroyuki Hino

¹Division of Pulmonary Medicine, National Hospital Organization National Kochi Hospital, Japan.

Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)

|October 18, 2011

Summary

Acupuncture can rarely cause chylothorax, a buildup of fatty fluid in the chest. This case highlights the need to consider thoracic duct injury from acupuncture as a potential cause of chylothorax.

More Related Videos

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion

Published on: May 12, 2023

Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

Published on: December 20, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Published on: September 1, 2023

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion

Published on: May 12, 2023

Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

Published on: December 20, 2024

Area of Science:

Thoracic Surgery
Gastroenterology
Integrative Medicine

Background:

Chylothorax, characterized by chyle accumulation in the pleural space, typically arises from surgical trauma or malignancy.
The lymphatic system's thoracic duct is crucial for fat transport; injury can lead to chylothorax.

Observation:

A 37-year-old woman presented with left pneumothorax and pleural effusion post-acupuncture on the neck and upper back.
Milky pleural fluid analysis confirmed chyle leakage, indicative of thoracic duct injury.

Findings:

Chest tube drainage achieved lung re-expansion.
Conservative management, including a low-lipid, medium-chain triglyceride-rich diet, facilitated successful extubation.

Implications:

Acupuncture-induced thoracic duct injury is an exceedingly rare but plausible cause of chylothorax.
Clinicians should consider this etiology in patients presenting with chylothorax after acupuncture.
This case underscores the importance of anatomical awareness during acupuncture procedures.