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Navigating the Needles: Unveiling the Risks of Acupuncture: A Case Report
Harkesh Arora1, Dhiran Sivasubramanian2, Sinduja Sivakumar3
1Lovelace Medical Center Albuquerque New Mexico USA.
Clinical Case Reports
|November 29, 2024
Summary
Acupuncture may rarely cause serious complications like tension pneumothorax, a collapsed lung. This case report highlights a delayed symptom onset after chest wall acupuncture, emphasizing the need for safety awareness.
Area of Science:
- Alternative Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Medical Safety
Background:
- Acupuncture is a popular alternative therapy with increasing demand for safety data.
- Adverse events from acupuncture are uncommon but can be severe.
- Chest wall acupuncture carries risks, including pneumothorax.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of tension pneumothorax following chest wall acupuncture.
- To highlight the atypical, delayed presentation of pneumothorax in this case.
- To emphasize the importance of safety standards and reporting in acupuncture.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 28-year-old female patient.
- Clinical presentation and radiographic findings documented.
- Intervention and patient outcome recorded.
Main Results:
- Patient developed tension pneumothorax with mediastinal shift after acupuncture.
- Urgent chest tube insertion was required.
- Symptoms resolved after 2 days, and the chest tube was removed.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture can lead to life-threatening complications such as tension pneumothorax.
- Delayed symptom onset may occur, potentially due to fistula size.
- Healthcare professionals must maintain awareness and report such incidents to improve patient safety and education.
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