An active Indonesian male smoker with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) is a rare disease that accumulates air in the pleural cavity caused by complications from previous illnesses.

Case presentation

An Indonesian male, 59 years old, complained of breathlessness and chest pain. The patient was examined for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and not detected. Chest X-ray and thorax high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT) scan showed SSP and centrilobular emphysema in the left hemithorax. The patient underwent water seal drainage (WSD) installation on the left lung and experienced improvement and was followed up every month in the outpatient clinic.

Clinical discussion

Diagnosis of SSP is based on age, gender, smoker, and radiological description. WSD installation in the left lung showed improvement and did not experience recurrence because several cases were reported to have been repaired without surgery.

Conclusion

Conservative management is the first recommendation in the SSP case if it increases the prognosis without surgery.