Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
[Air embolism at the pleurodesis for air leakage after pulmonary resection]
Takeo Togo1, Shinichiro Ota, Masahide Hirose
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
A 61-year-old female who was diagnosed with right lung cancer had right lower lobectomy by videoassisted thoracic surgery in June 2010. At the 7th post operative day( 7POD), the patient complained of dyspnea and chest X-ray showed right pneumothorax which was successfully treated by closed drainage and pleurodesis. Since then repeated right pneumothorax appeared and the same procedures were chosen for treatment. In September 2010, just after the pleurodesis for the 3rd time event, she lost consciousness. Brain computed tomography (CT) demonstrated air density area in bilateral internal carotid arteries and right parietal lobe, establishing the diagnosis of air embolism which was successfully treated by hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
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A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
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Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology
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