A Case of Hemothorax After Removal of Pectus Bar

Abstract

A 20-year-old man with pectus excavatum underwent pectus bar removal 2 years after the Nuss procedure. There were no intraoperative complications. He showed dyspnea and left chest pain on postoperative day 1. Chest radiography showed a remarkable effusion in the left hemithorax. He was treated conservatively. Although his hemoglobin level decreased from 14.8 to 9.6 g/dl, his respiratory status and chest radiography improved and he was discharged on postoperative day 3. His hemoglobin level became normal one month after surgery and the chest radiography showed no evidence of hemothorax. Although pectus bar removal is considered a relatively safe procedure, we should be aware of the complications both during and after the bar removal.