Pleurectomy for recurrent pneumothorax: an experience of 101 cases

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of pleurectomy for recurrent pneumothorax in terms of complications, recurrence rate. METHODS: Parietal pleurectomies from May 2004 to April 2007 for recurrent pneumothorax were analyzed. Patients under 10 years and over 60 years and patients with history of trauma or iatrogenic injury were excluded. All Patients that were admitted through emergency or out patients department were included. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were studied. There were 64 (63.36%) male and 37 (36.63%) females, with a mean age of 34 years, range (14–77).Out of 101 patients 86 patients (85.14%) was in their 3rd and 4th decade of life, 4 patients (3.96%) in 2nd decade and 11 patients (10.8%) were in there 5th decade of life. Out of 101 patients 63 patients (62.3%) were having tuberculosis, 23(22.7%) had COPD, 4 (3.96%) were post pneumonic while 11(10.8%) had primary spontaneous pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Parietal pleurectomy is a simple, safe and effective method of the surgical treatment of recurrent pneumothorax in terms of complications and recurrence.