Management of the pneumothorax and barotrauma

Primary and secondary pneumothoraces are relatively common problems in a busy chest physician's practice. Management options are often different when dealing with primary or secondary pneumothoraces because the underlying cause is different. Thoracoscopy will have a major impact on the surgical approach used in these patients, whereas the advent of lung transplantation has led to a more cautious approach toward the use of sclerosing agents in potential lung transplant recipients.