Pneumothorax in drug abusers: a complication of internal jugular venous injections

We report the cases of six patients who suffered pneumothorax following admitted drug injection into the internal jugular vein area. One was treated in the hospital with observation and serial roentgenograms, two were treated with chest tube thoracostomy, and three left the emergency department against medical advice and were lost to follow up. As increasing numbers of parenteral addicts turn to central venous injection sites, this complication is likely to become more common.