Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (SSP) with Bronchopleural Fistula in A Patient with COPD
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Gautam Rawal,
Flat No 417, Dhruva Apartments, Plot no 4, I P Extension, Patparganj, Delhi-110092, India.
E-mail : drgautamrawal@hotmail.com
The aim of this article is to report a case of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) with bronchopleural fistula in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). SSP is a common life threatening complication in a patient with COPD and usually creates confusion in the mind of the treating physician during an episode of acute exacerbation of COPD. A 52-year-old male presented with a three day history of dry cough and breathing difficulty. He had a history of COPD. A large pneumothorax on the left side was confirmed after chest X-ray. Tube thoracostomy was performed which showed a persistent air-leak suggesting a bronchopleural fistula. The patient was treated conservatively with patience and the leak sealed spontaneously. The patient recovered uneventfully. This case emphasizes that SSP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients having a history of long-term COPD who are in a relatively stable condition with non- critical respiratory distress and the importance of conducting a chest X-ray along with repeated clinical examination in a patient of COPD who does not improve with adequate therapy.
Chest X-ray, Emphysema, Thoracostomy
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/13265.5807
Date of Submission: Jan 31, 2015
Date of Peer Review: Feb 26, 2015
Date of Acceptance: Mar 10, 2015
Date of Publishing: Apr 01, 2015
Financial OR OTHER COMPETING INTERESTS: None.
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