Spontaneous pneumothorax complicating active pulmonary tuberculosis

A retrospective study of spontaneous pneumothorax complicating active pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted at Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases [OICD], Karachi to asses quantum of this common complication after half a century of the advent of effective chemotherapy. Fifty-three% admissions [943] were due to active pulmonary tuberculosis in the year 1993. Among them 1.7% cases had spontaneous pneumothorax. Male to female ratio was 3:1. Most of the patients were adult between 15-44. Nearly half of the cases were smokers and were males. Majority had unilateral involvement. One third had hydrothorax as well. Half of the patients were managed conservatively. Mortality was almost fifty% as compared to pre-chemotherapeutic era