Abstract
We reviewed the records of 150 surgically treated patients with idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax, with special reference to the clinical features and age at time of first episode. Group A comprised 116 patients under 30 years of age and group B, 34 patients 30 years of age or older. The clinical features of these two groups were compared. In group A there was a higher incidence of bilateral pneumothorax (including non-simultaneous) than in group B. At operation group A patients had more emphysematous bullae & blebs. Group B contained a higher proportion of smokers. A comparison of V25/Ht values suggested that group B had greater obstructive ventilatory impairment than group A.
In conclusion, idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax showed age-related differences in clinical features at the time of the initial episode. External causes such as smoking were closely associated with spontaneous pneumothorax in the older age group.
