Masih I, Vali Y, Naeem M, Reddy RV. Partial ambulatory management of severe secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.
Respir Med Case Rep 2017;
22:4-6. [PMID:
28761804 PMCID:
PMC5524631 DOI:
10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.05.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse