Simultaneous Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax Report of 12 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP) is a very rare condition, mainly seen in patients with underlying lung disease. Up to now, there are 65 patients who have been published. Twelve consecutive patients who presented with SBSP as definitive diagnosis were recruited for this study. They represented 1 % of all patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. All patients had immediate bilateral chest tubes on admission. Five of the 12 patients (42%) had no underlying lung disease. In 7 patients, SBSP was secondary to pulmonary metastases, histiocytosis X, undefined interstitial pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. None of the patients died during hospitalization. Eleven patients were treated with chemical pleurodesis, whereas thoracotomy and pleurectomy were necessary in 7 patients. Reexpansion of the lungs was achieved in all patients. Immediate bilateral chest tube insertion and pleurodesis are of major importance in the treatment of SBSP although a subset of patients needed surgical pleurectomy. Combination of these treatments provides successful and uneventful treatment of the disease.

Size of Pneumothorax can be a New Indication for Surgical Treatment in Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Prospective Study

“…The prevalence of PAL (14.9%) and ipsilateral recurrence (14.4%) in our study was similar to those reported in the literature. 11,14) As the recurrence rates have been reported to be 54% within four years after the first attack, it can be thought that the recurrence rate in our study might be increased after long follow-up period. 15) Bulla/bleb resection and wide pleural abrasion was applied to our patients via AT or VATS.…”

“…Surgical therapy is also recommended in patients with pneumonectomy, in pilots or divers in the first pneumothorax attack and in patients with bilateral synchronous pneumothorax. 3,4,11) Surgical methods include wedge resection and pleurectomy/pleural abrasion with VATS or AT and simple thoracoscopic talcage. However, the time for surgery, how many days should be considered as the limit for PAL, and after how many ipsilateral recurrences operation is required are still controversial.…”

An unusual cause of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax

“…[1] The common associations include sarcomas of various origins, histiocytosis X, lymphomas, primary and metastatic lung malignancies, interstitial lung diseases, and infections. [2] Our patient had scrub typhus infection with pulmonary complications like interstitial pneumonitis with acute respiratory distresssyndrome (ARDS) and simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP). Scrub typhus is widespread across the world, extending from Japan to Australia and from India to Pacific.…”

VATS for Bilateral Syncronized Spontaneous Pneumothorax

“…The operation time was shortened in this way. Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax could result from sarcoidosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Marfan's syndrome, metastasis, tuberculosis, and mesothelioma (5)(6)(7)(8). For this reason, systemic physical examination should be conducted on these patients.…”