Abstract
Secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces account for 35% of all pneumothoraces after the age of 50. Their management is still debated and can be challenging due to the underlying respiratory condition. In our observation, the use of small-bore chest tubes allowed prolonged ambulatory care in a palliative setting. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman suffering from a leiomyosarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases who had repeated episodes of pneumothorax, one of which was bilateral. Treatment involved the bilateral insertion of 8.5F pigtail catheters connected to Heimlich valves that allowed management as an outpatient. Recurrences were treated similarly, in association with oncological management, providing great additional benefits for patient comfort in this palliative context. Altogether, this case report confirms the applicability of outpatient management for drained spontaneous secondary pneumothoraces, even bilateral, especially in a palliative-care setting.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.