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and buffalo 
have in common? 
and tutorial
a patient few weeks post-sternotomy and prolonged vent-dependence suddenly develops tachypnea and hypoxemia with minimal air movement heard on auscultation
suspecting a pneumothorax you obtain a stat CXR and see this. woah!
suspecting a pneumothorax you obtain a stat CXR and see this. woah!
*two* simultaneous pneumathoraces? what are the odds?
pretty rare to occur spontaneously. this is a phenomenon where an abnormal pleuro-pleural connection is created, essentially leaving the patient with a single pleural cavity. this can occur after mediastinal surgery
pretty rare to occur spontaneously. this is a phenomenon where an abnormal pleuro-pleural connection is created, essentially leaving the patient with a single pleural cavity. this can occur after mediastinal surgery
in this case, any inciting event that can lead to pneumothorax can lead to compression of both lungs in a pretty dramatic fashion and put the patient at risk of tension physiology 
so what does this have to do with buffaloes? well, they're one of the few mammals that only have a single pleura
Indigenous hunters figured this out and targeted their spears at the lungs of buffalo to induce a tension pneumothorax
and thus we have a name: "buffalo lung"
Indigenous hunters figured this out and targeted their spears at the lungs of buffalo to induce a tension pneumothorax
and thus we have a name: "buffalo lung"
the good news is that the physiology that makes this so dangerous makes the treatment that much easier
usually a single chest tube will resolve the entire thing
and eventually the pleural linings should heal and become two separate cavities once more
usually a single chest tube will resolve the entire thing
and eventually the pleural linings should heal and become two separate cavities once more
have you ever seen a buffalo pneumothorax before? share your stories below!
also, the more correct terminology is "bison" but I'm sticking with the accepted medical vernacular
also, the more correct terminology is "bison" but I'm sticking with the accepted medical vernacular
