Iatrogenic Pneumothorax- The Undervalued Peril in Breast Surgery

Pneumothorax, as a complication arising from breast -related procedures is documented in various literature sources. However, it remains an underestimated issue. We present a case of left-sided pneumothorax following bilateral modified radical mastectomy. The patient was asymptomatic but found to have a left-sided pneumothorax on a postoperative chest x-ray that was ordered to confirm a right-sided chemo port inserted in the same sitting. The patient was treated with an intercostal drain and was discharged several days later. Upon reviewing the events the team believes pneumothorax is related to the thoracic fascial plane blocks that was given at the end of surgery. Keywords: pneumothorax, mastectomy, iatrogenic complication, serratus plane block, pecs block.