Lopez-Viego M A, Cornell J M
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9031.
Surgery. 1992 Feb;111(2):228-9.
Pleuroperitoneal shunting has become an increasingly popular therapeutic option for the control of intractable pleural effusions. However, there exists a paucity of information regarding institutional and individual experiences with this technique. We report an unusual complication of a Denver pleuroperitoneal shunt that resulted in pneumoperitoneum and a clinical picture of diffuse peritonitis from a ruptured abdominal viscus. The cause of this condition was continuous decompression of a pneumothorax into the peritoneal cavity, through the shunt.
