Iatrogenic Pneumothorax with Subsequent Subcutaneous Emphysema

This presentation reports a case of a 67-year-old former smoker who presented to the emergency department with new-onset hemoptysis. During the workup, a left lung mass was identified. During the biopsy, he experienced a pneumothorax. The procedure had to be aborted, and a small-sized chest tube was placed. The following day, the patient underwent a successful second lung biopsy, but a day later he developed significant subcutaneous emphysema despite having a chest tube. The same day, the smaller chest tube was removed and a larger chest tube was inserted. While small chest tubes are preferred for patient comfort, in some patients with risk factors, a large chest tube is recommended. Over the course of a few days, the emphysema improved.