Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: a time to re-evaluate management

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity and remains a significant health problem. Secondary SP (SSP) is associated with underlying lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung disease (ILD), and is associated with poor outcomes. The current guidelines in the management of SSP have not been updated since the last decade; therefore, new protocols focused on the management of SSP should be evaluated. We present two cases of patients admitted with SSP who were treated conservatively due to haemodynamic stability. In both cases, the pneumothoraces resolved without further complications.