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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
Published on: September 1, 2023
Bilateral pneumothoraces following acupuncture
Palmi Oskarsson1, Craig Andrew Walker1,2, Simon Leigh-Smith1,3
1Emergency Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract:
A 50-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest tightness following acupuncture to her upper back for a chronically painful left shoulder. She had symptoms of respiratory distress and chest X-ray revealed bilateral pneumothoraces. Symptoms resolved after insertion of bilateral Seldinger chest drains. She was admitted to the Cardiothoracic Surgery ward, chest drains were removed on the second and third days and the patient was discharged from hospital after 3 days. Clinicians and acupuncturists should be aware of this adverse event following acupuncture.
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