[Spontaneous pneumothorax: retrospective analysis of 348 cases].

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.