[Present views on spontaneous pneumothorax and hemopneumothorax].
Based on a retrospective investigation, the authors present an account of the diagnosis and treatment of 119 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. In the diagnosis they use in addition to clinical and auxiliary examinations also endoscopy and CT. The basis of treatment in their group was active drainage of every spontaneous pneumothorax. The group comprised also a rare case of haemo-pneumothorax where the source of haemorrhage into the pleural cavity was a ruptured adhesion in the cupula. In the investigated group they achieved re-expansion of the lungs in 103 patients by active drainage. Sixteen patients had more radical treatment--surgery. During the last three years they indicated surgery much more frequently than before. After treatment by active drainage they recorded in 19.4% of the patients relapses of SPNO, after radical treatment during the last 10 years they did not record any relapses. Based on their own experience and data in the literature the authors have a more active attitude to surgical treatment of SPNO.