Chronic Spontaneous Pneumothorax Decortication after 130 Days

The case of a 21-year-old male with neglected and protacted spontaneous pneumothorax is reported. Video-assisted thoracoscopy after 130 days showed the lung to be trapped solely by a thick pleurovisceral membrane, which required open surgical decortication. Chronic pneumothorax is a rare complication of spontaneous pneumothorax. This is the second report on a chronic pneumothorax solely due to a pleurovisceral membrane and the longest reported interval until decortication.

Chronic Pneumothorax - Pleurovisceral Membrane - Decortication

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Received for Publication: March 4, 1999