Pneumothorax - Is it a different disease in the east?

Abstract

A study was performed in chest unit of PGMI to evaluate the presentation, etiology and management of pneumothorax. 60 patietns presented with pneumothorax over a period of 2 years and 6 months (M:F = 2.5:1). The pneumothorax was due to pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in 32 cases, chornic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 14 cases interstitial lung disease (ILD) in 2 cases, Staphyllococcus Aureus penumonia with abscess in 1 case, iatrogenic pneumothorax in 1 case, blunt trauma to chest in 1 case and 9 cases had Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (PSP). in most of the cases the intercostal tube was removed in the first two weeks after the lungs were fully exapnded. Eleven patients were referred to thoracic surgen for pleurectomies while another two died. This study suggest that PTB and COPD are the more common causes of pneumothorax than PSP in our country contrary to the western literature.