• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.76 no.3
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2014

Pneumothorax-either spontaneous or iatrogenic-is commonly encountered in pulmonary medicine. While secondary pneumothorax is caused by an underlying pulmonary disease, the spontaneous type occurs in healthy individuals without obvious cause. The British Thoracic Society (BTS, 2010) and the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP, 2001) published the guidelines for pneumothorax management. This review compares the diagnostic and management recommendations between the two societies. Patients diagnosed with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) may be observed without intervention if the pneumothorax is small and there are no symptoms. Oxygen therapy is only discussed in the BTS guidelines. If intervention is needed, BTS recommends a simple aspiration in all spontaneous and some secondary pneumothorax cases, whereas ACCP suggests a chest tube insertion rather than a simple aspiration. BTS and ACCP both recommend surgery for patients with a recurrent pneumothorax and persistent air leak. For patients who decline surgery or are poor surgical candidates, pleurodesis is an alternative recommended by both BTS and ACCP guidelines. Treatment strategies of iatrogenic pneumothorax are very similar to PSP. However, recurrence is not a consideration in iatrogenic pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.770-778
• /
• 1994

Here analized the chest physiologic changes caused by various degrees of spontaneous pneumothorax in 77 patients admitted in Pusan National University Hospital from Jan. 1991 to Aug.1992. The results were summarized as follow: 1. There were 59 patients of primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 18 of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. 2. The intrapleural pressure risings were paralled to the increasing sizes of pneumothorax, especiallythe intrapleural pressure changes were significant in large pneumothorax. In the secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces the intrapleural pressure were relatively higher than primary in the same sizes of pneumothorax. 3. The intensity of chest pain was paralled to the increasing sizes and intrapleural pressures of the pneumothorax, but the degrees of dyspnea had no linear interrelationship. 4. The pulse rate, cardiac output, and arterial PO2 started to change from positive intrapleural pressure, and significant changes were noted between 6 to 9 mmHg of intrapleural pressure. But the arterial PCO2 changes had no interrelationship to the degrees of pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.788-793
• /
• 1989

We have observed 501 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1981 to June 1989 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Of these, 57 patients have undergone thoracotomy to treat the pneumothorax after closed thoracostomy. These 57 patients were based on this retrospective clinical analysis, and the results were as follows: The ratio of male to female was 4.2:1 in male predominance and the old aged patients, over 50 years old, occupied 47.3% of all patients. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 19 cases and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was 38 cases. The underlying pathology in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was tuberculosis emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 35 cases. The indications of thoracotomy were persistent air leakage in 23 cases recurrent pneumothorax in 21 cases, inadequate expansion in 13 cases. Rupture of bullae or blebs were most frequent operative and pathologic findings in persistent air leakage group and recurrent pneumothorax group. In inadequate expansion group, predominant finding was destructive lung lesion. Bullectomy and/or bullae ligation was most effective procedures in 36 cases [63%] for operative management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Duration of preoperative and postoperative chest tube indwelling day was 13.35 days and 8.05 days in persistent pneumothorax group, 8.92 days and 7.77 days in recurrent pneumothorax group, 13.23 days and 10.21 days in inadequate expansion group.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.582-588
• /
• 1985

We have observed 165 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from Aug. 1978 to May. 1985 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University. The ratio of male to female cases were 8.2:1 in male predominance, and the incidence was highest in the adolescence between 21 to 30 year of age. There were 85 patients of primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 80 patients of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. The etiologic factors of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were tuberculous origin in 50 cases, chronic bronchitis with emphysematous bullae or blebs in 17 cases, asthma in 10 cases and lung cancer in 3 cases. Closed thoracotomy was performed for reexpansion of collapsed lung in 153 cases, bed rest in 3 cases, needle aspiration in 5 cases and open thoracotomy in 14 cases. Closed thoracotomy was the main therapeutic approach of choice in the great majority of spontaneous pneumothorax with recurrence rate of 21.6%. However, open thoracotomy was undertaken in patients with continuous air leakage, recurrent episodes, bilateral pneumothorax and large visible apical blebs or bullae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.292-296
• /
• 1994

From March, 1985, to June, 1993, 244 patients with 345 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Koryo General Hospital were reviewed. Most of the patients were male, and the ratio of male to female was 8:1. The average age of the patients with spontaneous pneumothorax was 32.8 years old. The site of pneumothorax was revealed left side in 53.3%, right side in 42.6%, and bilateral in 4.1%. The cause of pneumothorax were shown primary spontaneous pneumothorax in 73.4%, and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in 26.6%. The underlying pathologic lesion in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax showed pulmonary tuberculosis in 56patients[86.1%], COPD in 4patients[6.2%], bronchial asthma in 2patients[3.1%], lung cancer in 2patients[3.1%], and pneumoconiosis in a patient[1.5%]. The usual clinical symptomes were dyspnea, chest pain and chest discomfort. Recurrence rate was as follow; 2nd episode 33.6%, 3rd episode in 26.8%, and above in 4th episode in 18.2%. All the patient of pneumothorax was treated as following; Closed thoracostomy tube drainage in 127patients, bullectomy in 88patients, lobectomy in 5patients, wedge resection in 2patients, conservative treatment with oxygen therapy in 21patients, and video assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy in a patient. The course of treatment of all of the patients were smooth and uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.125-134
• /
• 1975

The record of 137 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax seen at Busan National University Hospital during past 3years were reviewed to study the possible pathogenesis and its effective management. and the results obtained as follows; 1] The incidence of the "spontaneous" pneumothorax which developed without underlying pathology was 13-1%. The majority of those cases was considered as the result of rupture of subpleural blebs. 2] The incidence of secondary pneumothorax which developed with underlying pathology was 50.0%, in which 42.3% was combined with pulmonary tuberculosis and 8, 0% was combined with pulmonary infection. The traumatic pneumothorax was developed in 36-5% of total series. 3] In age distribution, there was pronounced difference between spontaneous and secondary pneumothorax. The majority of spontaneous pneumothorax cases was 20-30 decade and tall and tall and thin in body structure. In secondary pneumothorax, however, the incidence was relatively high in age group more than 50 years old. 4] The incidence of pneumothorax combined with pulmonary tuberculosis was particularly high in our country, and the cause of pneumothorax was seemed due to the rupture of subpleural caseous foci in some cases, but the majority was seen due to the rupture of emphysematous blebs which were formed with a pathological process of chronic tuberculosis. 5]Closed [tube] thoracotomy was the main therapeutic approach of choice in the great majority ,of pneumothorax in our series with the relapse rate of 19.6%. However, open thoracotomy and adequate surgical procedures should be undertaken in patients with continuous air leakage over 7 days and recurrent attack of pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 1968

Author studied the possible pathogenesis of spontaneous pneumothorax and its effective treatment in 33 cases, and the results obtained as follows:1) Of the 33 cases, 15 cases were originated from pulmonary tuberculosis, 11 cases were non-tuberculous natures and 7 cases were followed by traumatic chest injuries which were not associated with a laceration of the lung or rib fractures.2) So called "Idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax" seemed mostly to be caused by rupture of the emphy- sematous blebs.3) Spontaneous pneumothorax, in process of the pulmonary tuberculosis, seemed to be caused by the rupture of blebs which was formed with a pathological process of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.4) Author experienced interesting cases of giant blebs which had been fully occupied the right thoracic cavity. At first, it was misdiagnosed as extensive spontaneous pneumothorax on X-ray which was revealed extensive pleural air shadow with total atelectasis of the right lung. A pneumonectomy was performed together with the giant multiple blebs.5] Generally, closed thoracotomy with water-sealed drainage is the treatment of choice in spontaneous pneumothorax. However, open thoracotomy and adequate surgical procedures should be undertaken in patients with continuous air leakage or recurrent attack of spontaneous pneumothorax.aneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.253-256
• /
• 2011

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common clinical problem in emergency care. However, the overall incidences of primary spontaneous pneumothorax has been reported from as low as 1.4% to 7.6%. The clinical findings of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax can be variable. Clinical presentation is variable, ranging from mild dyspnea to tension pneumothorax. Bilateral tension pneumothorax can defined as cases where no tracheal deviation is detected in chest X-ray, and symptoms may be equal bilaterally. Herein, we present a case with simultaneous bilateral tension pneumothorax, severely deteriorated (i.e. with loss of consciousness, cyanosis, and hemodynamically unstable), that was successfully treated with immediate large-size needle decompression.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.631-635
• /
• 1991

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare manifestation of primary lung cancer and it is even more rare as an initial manifestation. Recently we have experienced three cases of lung cancer presenting initially as spontaneous pneumothorax. These three cases involved 2 men and one woman with an average age of 70 years [66 - 74years]. Lung cancer was discovered by explothoracotomy in two cases and by endoscopic biopsy in one case. In pathologic cell types, the one was alveolar cell carcinoma and the others were squamous cell carcinoma. We report these three cases of primary lung cancer presenting initially as spontaneous pneumothorax with review of the literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.132-135
• /
• 1994

By the early half of the 20th century, the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax was considered to be tuberculosis. But recently ruptures of the subpleural emphysema and/or blebs are considered as the major causes of spontaneous pneumothorax. To evaluate the causes of spontaneous pneumothorax, the authors reviewed the 96 patients who were consecutively diagnosed and treated by thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul Advenist Hospital, from May, 1988 to April, 1993. The patients who had clinical and radiological evidence of tuberculosis or other specific parenchymal lung diseases were excluded from this review. All patients were negative for tuberculous bacilli on sputum studies. The pathologic results were as follows : subpleural emphysema[25], blebs[27], subpleural emphysema and blebs[25], pleural fibrosis[10], tuberculosis[8], and parasitic granuloma[1]. Three of the patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by pathologic findings were progressed to active pulmonary tuberculosis on the follow-up chest PA films. The authors conclude that all patients with spontaneous pneumothorax must be evaluated periodically for tuberculosis and that patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by postoprative pathologic report need the administration of the prophylactic antituberculous drug, because the prevalence of tuberculosis remains relatively high rate in our country.