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Chronic spontaneous pneumothorax decortication after 130 days
A S Böhle1, R Kurdow, P Dohrmann
1Department of General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, Christian-Albrechts University Hospital, Kiel, Germany. boehle@surgery.uni-kiel.de
The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
|October 12, 2000
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of chronic pneumothorax in a young male, caused by a thick pleurovisceral membrane. Open surgical decortication was necessary after 130 days due to lung entrapment.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonology
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Spontaneous pneumothorax can rarely lead to chronic forms.
- Neglected cases may present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old male presented with a protracted spontaneous pneumothorax.
- Video-assisted thoracoscopy revealed lung entrapment by a dense pleurovisceral membrane after 130 days.
Findings:
- The chronic pneumothorax was solely attributed to the thick pleurovisceral membrane.
- Open surgical decortication was required for lung release, representing the longest reported interval until intervention for this specific condition.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of chronic pneumothorax due to isolated pleurovisceral membrane entrapment.
- It underscores the importance of timely intervention in spontaneous pneumothorax to prevent rare complications like chronic entrapment.