The legend of the buffalo chest

Blacha, MMJ; Smesseim, I; van der Lee, I; van den Aardweg, JG; Schultz, MJ; Kik, MLJ; van Sonsbeek, L; de Bakker, BS; Light, RW

Journal article

The legend of the buffalo chest

Abstract:: Background The “buffalo chest” is a condition in which a simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax occurs due to a communication of both pleural cavities caused by an iatrogenic or idiopathic fenestration of the mediastinum. This rare condition is known by many clinicians because of a particular anecdote which stated that Native Americans could kill a North American bison with a single arrow in the chest by creating a simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, due to the animal’s peculiar anatomy in which there is one contiguous pleural space due to an incomplete mediastinum. Research Question What evidence is there for the existence of buffalo chest? Study Design and Methods The term “buffalo chest” and its anecdote were first mentioned in a ‘‘personal communication’’ by a veterinarian in the Annals of Surgery in 1984. A mixed method research was performed on buffalo chest and its etiology. A total of 47 cases of buffalo chest were identified in humans. Results This study found that all authors were referring to the article from 1984 or to each other. Evidence was found for interpleural communications in other mammal species, but no literature on the anatomy of the mediastinum of the bison was found. The main reason for this research was fact-checking the origin of the anecdote and search for evidence for the existence of buffalo chest. Autopsies were performed on eight bison, and four indeed were found to have had interpleural communications. Interpretation We hypothesize that humans can also have interpleural fenestrations, which can be diagnosed when a pneumothorax occurs.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Blacha, M. M. J., Smesseim, I., van der Lee, I., van den Aardweg, J. G., Schultz, M. J., Kik, M. L. J., van Sonsbeek, L., de Bakker, B. S., & Light, R. W. (2021). The legend of the buffalo chest. Chest, 160(6), 2275–2282.

MLA Style

Blacha, M. MJ, et al. “The Legend of the Buffalo Chest.” Chest, vol. 160, no. 6, Elsevier, 2021, pp. 2275–82.

Chicago Style

Blacha, MMJ, I Smesseim, I van der Lee, JG van den Aardweg, MJ Schultz, MLJ Kik, L van Sonsbeek, BS de Bakker, and RW Light. 2021. “The Legend of the Buffalo Chest.” Chest 160 (6): 2275–82.
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