Chronic spontaneous pneumothorax due solely to a pleurovisceral membrane. A case report

The case of a 28-year-old male with a neglected and protracted spontaneous pneumothorax is reported. The condition was diagnosed 45 days after the onset of symptoms. The affected lung had completely collapsed and was unexpandable. Subsequent thoracotomy revealed a firm membrane covering the visceral pleura as the sole explanation of the persistent pulmonary collapse. This variety of chronic pneumothorax seems to be rare. The lung expanded completely after decortication.