[Management of recurrent pneumothorax]

ABSTRACT

Recurrent pneumothorax represent medical and surgical emergency that expose to dead risk. Multidisciplinar coordination and codified procedures are necessary in care of this entity.To improve this care, We must evaluate the degree of severity, emergency procedures, theuse of CT scan and prevention of recurrences. Authors propuse, inside this work, guidelines to care and to prevent recurrences. Infact, the surgical treatment is recommended in recurrent pneumothorax second ipsilateral recurrence, first controlateral recurrence, first episode of pneumothorax in case of alone lung and in case of dangerous jobs [pilot, marine]. Surgery consist in bullae resection and pleural adhesion by performing chemical and/or mechanical irritation of pleura, or pleurectomy. This treatment could be performed by medical thoracoscpy, thoracotomy, or surgical videothoracoscopy which was the usually performed procedure now in care and prevention of recurrent pneumothorax