Bilateral simultaneous spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

Bilateral simultaneous spontaneous pneumothorax, although rare, constitutes a grave emergency when it occurs. One of the strongest arguments in favour of prompt closed catheter drainage in the treatment of massive pneumothorax is the possibility that another pneumothorax may occur on the opposite side. The purpose of this paper is to report a case of simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax which presented as an acute medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. This is a condition which requires prompt treatment. Immediate needle decompression of one or both sides is a life-saving procedure. This has to be followed however by tube thoracotomies which have to be carried out bilaterally. It was felt that open thoracotomy or talc poudrage should not be undertaken in the present case as the reactive effusion produced by the intercostal tube was such that a chemical pleurodesis was likely. The lungs have remained completely expanded.