Contralateral pneumothorax after lung cancer surgery: report of two cases.

Due to recent increases in numbers of patients who underwent surgical treatments for lung cancer, numbers of complications of contralateral pneumothorax after lung surgery are suggested to increase. Moreover, recent spread of surgical indication to elderly people and patients with severely damaged pulmonary function may lead postoperative complication of contralateral pneumothorax more lethal. We herein describe 2 cases of contralateral pneumothorax following lung cancer surgery with a review of recent literatures. Case 1 underwent left lower lobectomy with combined partial resection of the chest wall for lung cancer. Five months later, he suffered from contralateral pneumothorax and respiratory failure. Immediate chest drainage followed by bullectomy and pleurodesis were performed. Case 2 was surgically treated for left lung cancer. Preoperative computed tomography incidentally demonstrated contralateral pneumothorax. Chest drainage was started immediately, followed by left lower lobectomy. Contralateral bullectomy and pleurodesis were performed 6 days after lobectomy. Both patients have been well without recurrence of pneumothorax or lung cancer.