title: Resolution of experimental pneumothorax by room air.
abstract: Observation alone is advised only for primary spontaneous pneumothoraces with less than 20 percent of the lungs collapsed. In such cases, it is the resorption capabilities of the visceral pleura that are solely relied upon. The AIM of the present experimental study was to demonstrate the capabilities of the pleura for pneumothorax resolution by room air.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted with six laboratory animals (New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.5-3.5 kg), in which right total pneumothorax was induced. Conventional chest X-rays at intervals of 2 days were used to monitor the changes in the size of the pneumothorax until its final resolution. The size of the pneumothorax was estimated by the Light index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total resolution of the pneumothorax occurred within 12 days after it was induced. The average rate of pneumothorax resolution was 6.63% (SEM +/- 0.20)/daily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study imitates initial clinical observation in pneumothorax. Despite the fact that the study demonstrates resolution of total pneumothorax (100%), observation only is inappropriate as a treatment modality in patients with more than 20% collapse of the lung.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Thoracic and Abdominal Surgery, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Ivan P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Novakov
authors.forename: Georgi N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hadzhigeorgiev
authors.forename: Georgi P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Safev
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic