Etiology of spontaneous pneumothorax in Algiers: A retrospective study in Bab El Oued University Hospital

Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural space described for the first time by Itard in 1803. The purpose of this retrospective study conducted over 23 months was to determine the etiological characteristics of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in Algiers.This study was conducted in a respiratory unit of Bab El Oued university hospital between January 2011 to November 2012 .All patients over 18 with spontaneous pneumothorax were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, radiological data were recorded for all patients. Of the 52 patients admitted to the unit during the study period 68% presented secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and 32% classified as primary .Median patient age was 44 (range 19-70), the male to female ratio was 10.11; the most common causes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were emphysema and pulmonary tuberculosis.The findings of this study indicate the results closeness between infectious etiology and the non infectious disease which mirror an epidemiological transition in Algeria.