Bilateral pneumothoraces following acupuncture

A 50-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest tightness following acupuncture to her upper back for a chronically painful left shoulder. She had symptoms of respiratory distress and chest X-ray revealed bilateral pneumothoraces. Symptoms resolved after insertion of bilateral Seldinger chest drains. She was admitted to the Cardiothoracic Surgery ward, chest drains were removed on the second and third days and the patient was discharged from hospital after 3 days. Clinicians and acupuncturists should be aware of this adverse event following acupuncture.

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