Surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

A 31-year-old Japanese woman, who had been treated for 8 years with steroids and azathioprine for systemic lupus erythematosus for 8 years, was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of right spontaneous pneumothorax. Air leakage was massive despite chest tube drainage for more than 40 days. Bacteriological examination of the discharge through the chest tube revealed Pseudomonus maltophilia and β-Streptococcus.Operation was performed on the 57th day after insertion of the chest tube. At operation several bullae were present mainly in the right upper lobe. Pneumothorax was due to rupture of one of them.Bullectomies were performed. The patient was discharged on the 58th POD although wound infection had occurred postoperatively.Microscopic examination of biopsied lung tissue revealed no typical parenchymal changes of SLE.