RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tuberculosis-Associated Secondary Pneumothorax: A Retrospective Study of 53 Patients
JF Respiratory Care
FD American Association for Respiratory Care
SP 298
OP 302
DO 10.4187/respcare.00695
VO 56
IS 3
A1 Masoud Shamaei
A1 Payam Tabarsi
A1 Saviz Pojhan
A1 Leila Ghorbani
A1 Parvaneh Baghaei
A1 Majid Marjani
A1 Mohammad Reza Masjedi
YR 2011
UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/3/298.abstract
AB BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax is a well known complication of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), particularly in patients with advanced TB. METHODS: At our national TB-referral hospital, we compared the medical records of 53 TB patients with pneumothorax and 106 TB patients without pneumothorax, seen in 2003 to 2008. We analyzed data on demographics; TB type (smear-positive, smear-negative, extrapulmonary); patient type (new patient, relapse, treatment default, treatment failure); clinical and radiological manifestations; surgeries; and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 53 pneumothorax patients, 34 (64%) were male. The pneumothorax group's mean age was 34 y (range 14–76 y). Thirty-six (68%) of the pneumothorax patients were new TB cases (ie, TB undiagnosed before they presented with pneumothorax). Pneumothorax was not significantly associated with sex, smoking, or drug use. Pneumothorax was significantly more common in patients < 30 years old (P < .001). In terms of radiological manifestations, 20 pneumothorax patients (38%) had cavitary lesions, and pulmonary infiltration and effusion were present in 19 (36%) and 17 (32%) patients, respectively. Cavitary lesion was significantly more common among the pneumothorax patients (P = .006). Overall, 47 (89%) of the pneumothorax patients were relieved with chest-tube insertion; the other pneumothorax patients were only observed. CONCLUSIONS: In patients < 30 years old or with cavitary lesions, worsening of the patient's respiratory condition should prompt consideration of pneumothorax.