Anaphylactic Shock Caused by Talc Pleurodesis Performed for Postoperative Air Leakage

Chemical pleurodesis, including talc pleurodesis, has been commonly used to prevent malignant pleural effusions and pneumothorax. This report describes a case of anaphylactic shock caused by talc pleurodesis. A 69-year-old woman who had prolonged air leakage after lobectomy underwent talc pleurodesis. Just after the talc administration, she went into shock. We immediately treated her for anaphylactic shock and simultaneously removed talc from the thoracic cavity through a thoracic tube. She subsequently recovered from shock. She had no further symptoms and was discharged 10 days after pleurodesis. Talc pleurodesis rarely causes severe complications, but it is necessary to treat these appropriately when they occur.