Spontaneous pneumothorax in medical practice in a general hospital

Eighty patients with spontaneous pneumothoraces treated in the University Department of Medicine, Singapore General Hospital from January 1981 to March 1983 were reviewed. There were 75 males and 5 females. Their ages ranged from 15 to 92 years. Dyspnea was the chief representing symptom in 59 patients (74%) followed by chest pain in 47 patients (59%). One patient was admitted with loss of consciousness. Pneumothorax with no discernable associated disease was present in 36 patients (45%) whereas 34 (43%) had chronic obstructive airways disease. Of the remaining 10 patients, active pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 5, bronchogenic carcinoma in 2, bronchial asthma in 2 and bronchopneumonia in 1 percent. Pneumothorax occurred equally on both sides. Single episode of pneumothorax was present in 64 patients (80%). Recurrent pneumothoraces were only present in 16 patients (20%). 57 patients (71%) required chest tube insertion while 14 patients (18%) in addition required either medical or surgical pleurodesis. Death occurred in 6 patients (7.5%) mainly in those with chronic obstructive airways disease. In this study the majority of pneumothoraces occurred in patients with either no underlying pulmonary disease or those with chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema. A bimodal age presentation was noted, with the younger patients having no underlying respiratory disorders.