Horner’s syndrome: an extremely rare complication of tube thoracostomy

Abstract

Chest tube insertion is the most commonly performed procedure in the thoracic surgery practice. This surgical procedure has various complications, however, Horner’s syndrome resulting from compression of the stellat ganglia due to apical insertion of chest tube is extremely rare. In this article a 21-year-old male patient who was treated with chest tube insertion for spontaneous pneumothorax at the left side is presented. The chest tube was removed after four days, however, classical triad of Horner’s syndrome including unilateral ptosis, miosis and anhydrosis developed. On the control examination performed after three months symptoms improved except for slight pitosis. It should be kept in mind that Horner’s syndrome may develop as a complication of apically placed chest tube.