Partial ambulatory management of severe secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax can be difficult to manage especially in patients with advanced lung disease and respiratory failure. Such patients are unfit for surgery and may endure prolonged hospital stays with chest drains in situ. We describe two such cases where the air leak was persistent...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dr. Izhaq Masih, Dr. Yusuf Vali, Dr. Muhammed Naeem, Dr. R.V. Reddy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-01-01
Series:Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007116300922
Description
Summary:Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax can be difficult to manage especially in patients with advanced lung disease and respiratory failure. Such patients are unfit for surgery and may endure prolonged hospital stays with chest drains in situ. We describe two such cases where the air leak was persistent despite conventional management. Ambulatory devices which we ordinarily use to manage pneumothoraces in patients with a good lung reserve, were employed as a palliative measure. The strategy not only allowed the patients to return home, but also resulted in healing of the air leak which had persisted with conventional management.
ISSN:2213-0071