Managing Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is commonly cared for in the emergency department, with an incidence ranging from 6 to 66 per 100,000 per year1-4 and a 1-year recurrence rate of 29%.5 It is more common in men and has a biphasic distribution occurring more frequently in the 15 to 30-year-old and ≥65-year-old groups.1-4 Risk factors include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial pneumonitis, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and smoking history.1,4,6-10 Pneumothorax can be qualified as traumatic or spontaneous (ie, atraumatic).