THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINE FOR SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX

Abstract

Four hundred and sixty-three cases of spontaneous pneumothorax experienced in the department over the two decade were clinically evaluated. These patients were 420 cases in male and 43 cases in female. The age range was 13-92 years (averaged age of 32.5 years). There were 169 lesions in the right, 236 lesions in the left, and 53 lesions in the bilateral lungs, showing that the disease was prone to occur in the left side. Operation was performed in 280 cases include 24 cases by thoracoscopic surgery. And there were 144 cases in chest tube drainage therapy, 17 cases in pleurodesis therapy and 7 cases in needle aspiration. Within 1 year recurrence rate of non-operative primary case was 60.1% and so that the active surgical therapy was necesitated in even first attack case. The recurrence rate after surgical therapy was 2.5%. In bilateral metachronous pneumothorax, the recurrence rate of contralateral pneumothorax after surgical therapy was 31.7%, and so bilateral one-stage operation would be recommended. Thoracoscopic surgery to the spontaneous pneumothorax has actually going to become the general treatment, in which this method should be a suitable therapy for the aged spontaneous pneumothorax with poor respiratory funciton which was distinct position of ruptured bullae.