Acupuncture is often regarded as innocuous. However, its complication can be serious and deadly if unattended. We report a case of iatrogenic bilateral pneumothorax after acupuncture therapy. Setting up a government regulatory body and using needles with safety design can prevent further inadvertent incidences from occurring.
UlettGA. Beyond Yin and Yang: How acupuncture really works. St Louis: Warren H Green; 1992:3–53.
2.
SunKO. Complementary medicine, acupuncture, and pneumothorax: Author's reply. Hong Kong Med J2002;8:225–6.
3.
WhiteAHayhoeSHartAErnstE. Adverse events following acupuncture: Prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ2001;323:485–6.
4.
MacPhersonHThomasKWaltersSFitterM. The York acupuncture safety study: Prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ2001;323:486–7.
5.
Lung patient died after acupuncture. South China Morning Post. 2002 Jan 29;p.2 (col. 6).
6.
LeungJS. Complementary medicine, acupuncture, and pneumothorax. Hong Kong Med J2002;8:225.
7.
NorheimAJ. Complications of acupuncture therapy. A study of the literature from 1981–92 [in Norwegian]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen1994;114:1192–4.
8.
PeukerETWhiteAErnstEPeraFFillerTJ. Traumatic complications of acupuncture. Therapist need to know human anatomy. Arch Fam Med1999;8:553–8.
9.
PeukerEGronemeyerD. Rare but serious complications of acupuncture: Traumatic lesions. Acupunct Med2001;19:103–8.