Spontaneous Pneumothorax

  • Matlawene John Mpe University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) and the Dr George Mukhari Hospital
Keywords: Spontaneous pneumothorax management

Abstract

Smokers have an approximately 12% lifetime risk of developing a primary spontaneous pneumothorax. It is rarely life-threatening and is mainly treated by aspiration. Secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces occur mostly in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, they have a mortality rate of approximately 1% and most patients require a tube thoracostomy with instillation of a sclerosing agent. Successful prevention of recurring secondary pneumothoraces requires more invasive surgical procedures. This article provides a short overview of spontaneous pneumothorax and its treatment.

Author Biography

Matlawene John Mpe, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) and the Dr George Mukhari Hospital
MBChB, FCP (SA), Cert. Pulmonology Intensive Care Specialist Department of Intensive Care
Published
2009-06-09
Issue
Vol 51, No 3 - May/June 2009
Section
CPD
By submitting manuscripts to SAFP, authors of original articles are assigning copyright to the South African Academy of Family Physicians. Copyright of review articles are assigned to the Publisher, Medpharm Publications (Pty) Ltd, unless otherwise specified. Authors may use their own work after publication without written permission, provided they acknowledge the original source. Individuals and academic institutions may freely copy and distribute articles published in SAFP for educational and research purposes without obtaining permission.