[Spontaneous pneumothorax in pregnancy. Case report]

(Neumotórax espontáneo en el embarazo. Presentación de un caso.)

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare condition during pregnancy. The most common cause is the rupture of a subpleural apical bulla or bleb, due to the increased respiratory demand of the peripartum period. The main risk for the mother is respiratory compromise; fetal risks include reduction in oxygen supply and preterm labor. The risk of recurrence is 30-40%, particularly during labor. Treatment is based on the magnitude of pneumothorax. Up to 75% of patients are treated with chest tube drainage. We present the case report of a previously healthy patient.

CASE REPORT:
Our patient was a 22-year-old female at 24.2 weeks of her second pregnancy. The patient was a non-smoker, had no history of any drug addictions, and no history of previous pulmonary disease. The patient presented with sudden onset of pleuritic right-sided pleuritic chest pain associated with dyspnea. Chest examination was notable for decreased breath sounds and hyperresonance over the right hemithorax. Chest radiography showed right spontaneous pneumothorax with total lung collapse.

CONCLUSIONS:
Diagnosis of pneumothorax should be considered in any pregnant woman with chest pain and dyspnea. The presented case was successfully treated with closed intercostal chest tube thoracostomy for 7 weeks.

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Author information

Author/s: Pinedo-Onofre, Javier Alfonso (JA); Ortiz-Castillo, Fátima Guadalupe (FG); Guevara-Torres, Lorenzo (L); Aguillón-Luna, Arturo (A);

Affiliation: División de Cirugía y Servicio de Cirugía de Tórax, Hospital Central Ignacio Morones Prieto, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México. dr_creatura(-atsign-)hotmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Cirugia y cirujanos (Cir Cir), published in Mexico. (Language: spa)

Reference: -2006 Nov-Dec; vol 74 (issue 6) : pp 469-71

Dates: Created 2007/01/24; Completed 2007/07/25; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17244504, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Chest Pain - etiology
Chest Tubes
Drainage - instrumentation
Dyspnea - etiology
Female
Fetal Hypoxia - prevention & control
Humans

Infant, Newborn
Male
Pneumothorax - surgery
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - surgery
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pulmonary Atelectasis - etiology; surgery
Rupture, Spontaneous

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