Spontaneous pneumothorax. Special considerations.

A review of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) between 1977 and 1979 was undertaken to identify areas of strength 1977 and 1979 was undertaken to identify areas of strength and areas of weakness. Fifty patients with a total of 58 pneumothoraces were identified, and their charts were reviewed. Fifty-one pneumothoraces were classified as primary or idiopathic, and seven were secondary to parenchymal disease. Problem areas that were identified included failure to consider catamenial pneumothorax in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax and failure to recognize reexpansion pulmonary edema as a complication of treatment.