Contralateral tension pneumothorax during video-assisted thorascoscopic surgery for lung cancer: a case report

Contralateral tension pneumothorax during one-lung ventilation is a rare but catastrophic surgical complication. A 72-year-old Japanese male with lung cancer underwent right upper lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Despite use of various methods for maintaining oxygenation during one-lung ventilation, percutaneous oxygen saturation was unstable from the start of surgery and suddenly decreased with a drop in blood pressure. An intraoperative chest X-ray revealed a tension pneumothorax of the dependent lung. Insertion of a chest drain saved the patient's life. This case suggests that a contralateral tension pneumothorax should be considered as a possible cause when adequate oxygenation cannot be maintained during one-lung ventilation.