[Spontaneous pneumothorax: retrospective analysis of 348 cases]

Abstract

Background: In this study, spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) cases were divided into two groups and retrospectively evaluated according to age, sex, diagnostic methods, treatments, and results.

Methods: Between June 1997 and May 2005, 348 patients (320 males, 28 females; mean age 34.5; range 14 to 80 years) with SP were enrolled into our study. There were 274 (78.7%) primary SP and 74 (21.3%) secondary SP patients. Tuberculosis was the most common cause in secondary SP patients. Nasal oxygen and aspiration was the first-line therapeutic option in 10% of patients and tube thoracostomy was performed in 90%.

Results: Nasal oxygen and aspiration success ratio was 85.7% in primary SP patients and 66.7% in secondary SP patients. Tube thoracostomy success ratio was nearly the same in patients with primary and secondary SP (88.4% and 85.7%). Of the 29 patients (11.6%) with primary SP with unsuccessful result of tube thoracotomy, 15 underwent axillary thoracotomy and 14 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). One patient among these 14 who underwent VATS (7.1%) had recurrence.

Conclusion: Tube thoracostomy success ratio was high in both primary and secondary SP patients. Surgical procedures can be applied safely, with low recurrence rate, when the tube thoracostomy remains unsuccessful.