[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax from the pulmonary internal medicine viewpoint]

We made a retrospective analysis with regard to the therapy of all patients with spontaneous pneumothorax who were treated in the district lung hospital Lostau from 1. 1. 1983 to 30. 6. 1985. We waited for the spontaneous regression at 10 patients with a partial pneumothorax, the relapse rate was 30% in these cases. Sixty three patients were aspirated once or repeatedly with the pneumothorax apparatus. Our own success rate was 78% with this therapy, the relapse rate 26%. We treated 18 patients by rubber-tube drain. It was successful in 94%, the relapse rate was 19%. A thoracoscopy with pleurodesis was necessary in one patient who was generally inoperable. Five patients were treated primarily surgically. The same therapy was carried out in 6 patients with bullous emphysema in the free period. We consider the aspiration of spontaneous pneumothorax with pneumothorax apparatus as an effective method, which is not very burden some for the patients. The continuous suction drainage was very important too in the differential therapy of our patients.