Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax * Authors' reply

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax.

We describe 12 patients with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP). They represent 4 percent of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax seen at our hospital from 1971 to 1990. Five of the 12 had no underlying lung disease. In the seven remaining patients, SBSP was secondary to histiocytosis X, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, osteogenic sarcoma with pleural and pulmonary metastases, Ho...

Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax

A 15-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of bilateral pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath. His symptoms began suddenly, hours earlier, while studying in school without any history of trauma. The patient did not smoke, denied illicit drug use, had no known toxic exposures, but did report cough and upper respiratory symptoms for the previous 2 days. ...

Bilateral simultaneous spontaneous pneumothorax.

Bilateral simultaneous spontaneous pneumothorax, although rare, may constitute a grave emergency when it does occur. Early diagnosis and institution of prompt therapeutic measures may be essential for survival. The great majority of cases of spontaneous pneumothorax involve one lung only and are readily treated by simple aspiration of the air, or by intercostal catheter and water seal drainage....

The Authors’ Reply

The Authors’ Reply