Contralateral tension pneumo/hemothorax resulting from left subclavian vein cannulation under general anesthesia.

A patient had a subclavian vein catheter placed under general endotracheal anesthesia with positive pressure ventilation. During placement, the superior vena cava, pleura, and pulmonary tissue were punctured, resulting in a tension pneumo/hemothorax, the detection of which was complicated by its slow onset and unusual location. The lesion required an emergent thoracotomy for repair.