Tension Pyopneumothorax in an Immunocompetent Adolescent: A Case Report

• Published in: Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 268 - 272
• Main Authors: May-Smith, Elizabeth, Olshan, Marc, Supino, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University of California Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine publishing Western Journal of Emergency Medicine 01.08.2024; eScholarship Publishing, University of California
• Subjects: Case Reports
• ISSN: 2474-252X; 2474-252X
• DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.6590

Tension pyopneumothorax is a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs as a complication of intrathoracic infection or bronchopleural fistula. In the few cases reported in the literature, the patients typically have multiple comorbidities, underlying lung disease, and/or an immunocompromised state. This case describes tension pyopneumothorax in a previously healthy adolescent male with no existing risk factors for this disease. After emergent stabilization and admission, surgical exploration of the chest revealed no fistulas or pleural defects. Extensive workup did not show any underlying risk factors for development of this condition. This case of pyopneumothorax with progression to tension physiology is exceedingly rare. Uniquely, the patient had no underlying medical or anatomical predisposition to developing this condition. The case also emphasizes pediatric patients' capacity to compensate in the setting of critical illness.