Spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

The Comprehensive review on Spontaneous Pneumothorax stated that the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is higher in tall men due to alveolar stretch. It appears that PSP appears to be due to a low thoracic index moulding the lung into a shape that causes an environment of high apical stress that leads to pleural buckling and fatigue, with resulting pleural tissue porosity and bulla formation. There is a twenty-fold increase in pleural stress occurring in the apex of chests (x5 – x10 higher stress on finite element analysis testing), with the low thoracic index typically found in PSP patients further accentuating this (x4 stress). The increase in stress occurred especially in the area where the first rib caused lung indentations. The mild differences in thoracic index found in females and occurring with age act to reduce pleural stress, explaining the predominant presentation in young male adults.