BTS guidelines Management of spontaneous pneumothorax: British Thorax: first published as 10.1136/thx.2010.136986 on 9 August 2010. Downloaded from Thoracic Society pleural disease guideline 2010 Andrew MacDuff,1 Anthony Arnold,2 John Harvey,3 on behalf of the BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group 1Respiratory Medicine, Royal INTRODUCTION between the onset of pneumothorax and physical Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK The term ‘pneumothorax’ was first coined by Itard activity, the onset being as likely to occur during 2 Department of Respiratory and then Laennec in 1803 and 1819 respectively,1 sedentary activity.13 Medicine, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK and refers to air in the pleural cavity (ie, inter- Despite the apparent relationship between 3North Bristol Lung Centre, spersed between the lung and the chest wall). At smoking and pneumothorax, 80e86% of young Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK that time, most cases of pneumothorax were patients continue to smoke after their first episode of secondary to tuberculosis, although some were PSP.14 The risk of recurrence of PSP is as high as 54% Correspondence to recognised as occurring in otherwise healthy within the first 4 years, with isolated risk factors Dr John Harvey, North Bristol ‘ ’ fi > 12 15 Lung Centre, Southmead patients ( pneumothorax simple ). This classi ca- including smoking, height and age 60 years. Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; tion has endured subsequently, with the first Risk factors for recurrence of SSP include age,
[email protected] modern description of pneumothorax occurring in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.15 16 Thus, healthy people (primary spontaneous pneumo- efforts should be directed at smoking cessation after Received 12 February 2010 thorax, PSP) being that of Kjærgaard2 in 1932.