“Ex Vacuo” Pneumothorax

Ex vacuo pneumothorax is a form of pneumothorax that occurs after pleural intervention, such as thoracentesis when the lung is unable to expand to fully fill the pleural space. Unlike other iatrogenic pneumothoraces, it may not respond to pleural drainage and is not caused by puncture of the visceral pleura and underlying lung.

REFERENCES

• 1 Chang Y C, Patz Jr E F, Goodman P C. Pneumothorax after small bore catheter placement for malignant pleural effusion.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1996;  166 1049-1051
• 2 Boland G W, Gazelle G S, Girard M J et al.. Asymptomatic hydropneumothorax after therapeutic thoracentesis for malignant pleural effusions.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998;  170 943-946
• 3 Ponrartana S, Laberge J M, Kerlan R K, Wilson M W, Gordon R L. Management of patients with “ex-vacuo” pneumothorax after thoracentesis.  Acad Radiol. 2005;  12 980-986
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