Abstract

We conducted a retrospective study to compare the characteristics of patients with primary (PSP) and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). The study included 53 patients (25 PSP and 28 SSP) who were treated in our department between January 1997 and December 1999. Mann Whitney U test was used for statistical analy - sis. Of the 53 patients, 77.4% were male and 22.6% were female and the mean age was 43.6±18.7. We obser - ved that the percentage of smoking was high in both groups (76.0% in PSP, 67.9% in SSP). We found that the most common associated illnesses were COPD (42%) and pneumonia in patients with SSP. Thoracentesis as the initial treatment was successful in 8 of the 10 cases with PSP and in 3 of the 6 cases with SSP. Tube drainage was performed in 17 patients with PSP and in 22 patients with SSP. Mean duration of drainage was 7.1±3.3 days in the PSP group and was 20±14.3 days in the SSP group (p<0.05). Mean duration of hospital stay was sta - tistically longer in SSP group (23.2±18.6 and 7.7±3.2 days). Complications were observed in two patients with PSP, and in 7 patients with SSP. Two patients with SSP died.