2014 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 133-136
We report two cases of pneumothorax following nerve block detected by ultrasonography in an outpatient setting. Case 1 was a 59-year-old woman who reported chest pain after thoracic paravertebral block. Case 2 was a 68-year-old woman who reported chest pain after acupuncture. In both cases, we suspected pneumothorax and performed diagnostic ultrasonography. There was no sign of pleural sliding, and air reverberation artifacts were apparent in both. Pneumothorax was diagnosed, and the patients were admitted to our hospital. Although chest X-ray and computed tomography are typically used to assess the severity of pneumothorax, ultrasonography allowed for a rapid diagnosis and an effective follow-up.
