Introduction:

pneumothorax is the presence of gas in the pleural space, with consequent lung collapse that compromises ventilatory mechanics; a spontaneous pneumothorax is one that appears without a history of chest trauma. The diagnosis is made with simple chest radiography, although tomography is the study of choice to detect subpleural bullae.

Clinical case:

an 18-year-old male, with a history of right lobectomy at 15 years of age, presented with dyspnea at rest and left pleuritic pain, in the exploration with hypoventilation of the left hemithorax, chest radiograph, pneumothorax was observed, management was given with an endopleural tube, with adequate evolution and discharge, after one month he returned with the same symptoms, observing a recurrent pneumothorax, for which a pulmonary CT scan was requested showing a left apical bulla.

Conclusions:

treatment consists of evacuating air from the pleural space; it must be individualized, taking into account the severity of the clinical situation and the risk of recurrences. Videothoracoscopy with bullectomy has been shown to improve dyspnea, gas exchange, and lung function.

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