Intraoperative pneumothorax during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Anesthesiologists currently view laparoscopic cholecystectomy resemblant to other laparoscopic procedures with respect to the necessity of inducing a pneumoperitoneum via abdominal insufflation of carbon dioxide (CO2). The present case report describes a healthy 63-year-old man who while undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia, developed hypoxemia in the course in consequence of pneumothorax. This complication, although rare, can be catastrophic if prompt diagnosis and rapid intervention and management do not come in the nick of time.