From the neck to the lung: pneumothorax caused by a lost needle

Abstract

The case of a 29-year-old man with a left-sided pneumothorax caused by an injection needle in the lung is presented. The needle had been lost 3 months previously during an attempt to inject heroin into the left jugular vein. With axillary limited thoracotomy after attempted thoracoscopy, the needle was finally found in the left upper lobe of the lung, most probably causing the pneumothorax. At least no other pathologies of the lung were detected and, after surgery, no further pneumothorax occurred. The case is discussed in relation to similar cases described in the medical literature.