Spontaneous Pneumothorax

The authors present some clinical observations on 50 cases with spontaneous pneumothorax encountered in St. Mary's Hospital during the period from January 1963 until October 1965.2. The incidence was highest in the adult between 3rd and 4th decades: the males were affected more frequently than females with slight preponderance in the left side of the chest. The result were consistent with whose reported in the literature by the other authors. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common cause among the underlying diseases, estimated 42% of the cases. 3. Satisfactory re-expansion of the collapsed lung was achieved within 7 weeks in 78% of the cases, 10% of which developed recurrence. The mortality rate was 6%. 4. The method of the management included bed rest and simple aspiration of air in 19 cases, closed thoracotomy in 22 cases and open thoracotomy in 6 cases.