Management of spontaneous pneumothorax

Recurrence is the most common complication of spontaneous pneumothorax. Open thoracotomy with resection of obliteration of blebs and parietal pleurectomy provides the best protection against recurrence. Twenty-seven consecutive patients underwent open thoracotomy for recurrent pneumothorax with no mortality and minimum morbidity and have remained free from recurrence. We believe that thoracotomy should be more widely used in the treatment of what is called spontaneous pneumothorax, since this treatment may remove the real cause of the disease.

Arm ischemia due to fibromuscular hyperplasia of the axillary artery

A case of fibromuscular hyperplasia of the left axillary artery is reported. The lesion was bypassed using autogenous saphenous vein. At present writing, nine months after grafting, excellent pulses are present in the arm and the patient has been completely relieved of the ischemic symptoms.