[The importance and urgency of pneumothorax]

In a group of 110 subject with pneumothorax some factors are evaluated which may influence its impact and urgency. Attention is devoted to the length of the disease before surgical treatment, to the most frequent basic and accessory diseases, methods and complications of therapy, its effect and to economic aspects. Treatment on account of thoracotomy was indicated in 8.2% subjects. A total of six patients died. The authors recorded an increase of artificial pneumothorax. They draw attention to the disproportionately severe sequelae which may be due to apparently insignificant causes. Cure within one week was achieved in two-thirds of the group, the mortality increased steeply with the increasing number of relapses of the disease.