Capnothorax- an extremely infrequent and difficult to diagnose life-threatening complication of laparoscopy: A report of two cases

Capnothorax, a rare but life-threatening complication during laparoscopy, often presents diagnostic challenges due to its infrequency. The symptoms of capnothorax can overlap with those of endobronchial intubation and pneumothorax, necessitating it to be a diagnosis of exclusion. We present two cases where patients developed increased airway pressure, desaturation, and hypercapnia following capnoperitoneum. Video bronchoscopic examination ruled out endobronchial intubation. Clinical improvement was observed upon deflation of the abdomen and initiation of conservative management, despite continuing positive pressure ventilation thus differentiating it from pneumothorax and obviating the need for intercostal drain insertion.