Pneumothorax secondary to acupuncture in an adolescent girl

Abstract

Acupuncture is a primary therapeutic technique used in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the stimulation of specific pressure points along the body surface with heat, pressure, or insertion of thin needles. In our review of the literature, acupuncturerelated complications are rarely reported, particularly in children. The rare reports are usually by the clinicians managing the complications rather than the acupuncturists. One study found that only 20% of reports were authored by the acupuncturists who performed the procedures causing the adverse events. Because acupuncture is gaining popularity and usage among children, raising awareness of the potential complications is crucial. Reporting complications contributes to education, recognition, and establishment of safety guidelines for this alternative therapy in children. We report a case of iatrogenic pneumoth침 치료 후 사춘기 여아에게서 발생한 기흉