Primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Therapeutic considerations.

ABSTRACT

Primary pneumothorax represents the single most frequent cause of admission of young adults to a hospital's thoracic service. However, the best management of these patients with rupture of subpleural blebs in the apical region remains controversial. In a retrospective analysis of 108 consecutive patients with spontaneous primary pneumothorax treated at a university hospital over a 5-year period, we were able to examine the risks and benefits of various treatment approaches. Interestingly, although male patients outnumbered female patients approximately 21, female patients were statistically more likely to undergo operative intervention.