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Pneumothorax: surgery or patience?
11 décembre 2025
By Ana Espino | Published on December 11, 2025 | 3 min readPneumothorax is a common thoracic condition caused by the presence of air in the pleural cavity. It can be primary—occurring in individuals without underlying lung disease—or secondary, linked to conditions such as COPD. Treatment mainly relies on two approaches: conservative management (oxygen therapy, aspiration) and minimally invasive s
By Ana Espino | Published on December 11, 2025 | 3 min read
Pneumothorax is a common thoracic condition caused by the presence of air in the pleural cavity. It can be primary—occurring in individuals without underlying lung disease—or secondary, linked to conditions such as COPD. Treatment mainly relies on two approaches: conservative management (oxygen therapy, aspiration) and minimally invasive surgery (VATS). Although conservative treatment is less invasive, it carries a high recurrence rate. Conversely, VATS appears more effective at preventing relapses, but its long-term efficacy remains controversial.
Pneumothorax is a common thoracic condition caused by the presence of air in the pleural cavity. It can be primary—occurring in individuals without underlying lung disease—or secondary, linked to conditions such as COPD. Treatment mainly relies on two approaches: conservative management (oxygen therapy, aspiration) and minimally invasive surgery (VATS). Although conservative treatment is less invasive, it carries a high recurrence rate. Conversely, VATS appears more effective at preventing relapses, but its long-term efficacy remains controversial.
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Scientific reference
Bo Zhang, et al. Long-Term Efficacy of Conservative Management Versus Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pneumothorax: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann. Ital. Chir. 2025, 96(11), 1441–1451
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