title: 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 2:1, female patients were statistically more likely to undergo operative intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Risner
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Snider
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013908:Thoracotomy