Pneumothorax and mediastinal pneumothorax after thyroid surgery: prevention and managements                         SHEN Qiang. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC),Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Fudan University Thyroid Cancer Center,  Shanghai200032, China
Abstract    Pneumothorax and mediastinal pneumothorax are the rare complications of thyroid surgery. However, if the physician is lacked of the knowledge of the prevention and treatment of the syndromes, it will result in some severe damage. Malpractice, invasion of the tumor and the high pressure of CO2 used in the endoscopic thyroid surgery are the three main causes of the complications. To avoid such consequences the surgeon should evaluate the tumor carefully before the surgery and be acquainted with the anatomy around the cervical pleura. The postoperative patients should be monitored for chest symptoms intensively, and closed drainage of pleural cavity should be applied immediately right after the confirmation of X-ray.