Initial management of spontaneous pneumothorax--role of the thoracic surgeon.

Med J Malaysia Vol 66 No 2 June 2011 We read with interest Tengku Ismail et al’s recent national survey article on initial management of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) . Given the paucity of data regarding prevalence and outcomes of SP in Malaysia, the authors should be commended for raising local awareness of this important and relatively common condition, and for highlighting the lack of awareness regarding contemporary treatment guidelines. The authors quite rightly suggest judicious adoption of international guidelines into local practice however the availability or perceived lack of cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons is less relevant in the initial management of SP.