Recurrent Pneumothorax: A Chest Tube Complication

Chest tubes are widely used for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The most common complication of the chest tube is a nonfunctioning chest tube, which might lead to recurrent pneumothorax during hospital admission. We describe a case of a 13-year-old tall and thin-built African American male who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a large right-sided pneumothorax diagnosed with a chest X-ray (CXR). Pneumothorax was managed with the three-compartment chest tube drainage system. Serial CXR revealed improvement in pneumothorax after the chest tube insertion. The patient had recurrent pneumothorax on the right side on the second day of admission attributed to the kinking of a chest tube. Relieving the kink led to the resolution of pneumothorax. The provider needs to be aware of the common complications of chest tube insertion and their management. Alternative treatment options with fewer complications like needle tube insertion for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in children and adolescents need to be considered.