engleski

PNEUMOTHORAX AND MARIJUANA IN YOUNG MEN

PURPOSE: There are a lot of studies on the subject of marijuana causing spontaneous pneumothorax, but still, these findings remain unclear and controversial. We are presenting conection between marijuana smoking and associated risk of pneumothorax in young men in a single center study. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey about marijuana use in male pneumothorax patients under 40 years of age in a single thoracic surgery center during one year period. The treatment was standardized: observation for the first time small pneumothorax (<2cm), chest tube for large (>2cm) first time pneumothorax or any symptomatic pneumothorax, VATS procedure for the second pneumothorax (ipsilateral or contralateral) and VATS procedure for first time pneumothorax in professional athletes and some specific occupations. RESULTS: We treated 84 patients for pneumothorax in one year period. There have been 58 male patients and 42 of them were under 40 years of age. In 27 patient standardized VATS procedure was performed. Resection of apical part of the upper lobe is combined with thermoabrassion of the upper half of parietal pleura. Thoracoscopic finding in these patients was mostly Vanderschueren III and IV. In 13 patients chest drainage was sufficient and in two cases no surgical procedure was performed. We conducted an anonymous survey and found that all patients under 40 years of age have been smoking marijuana. CONCLUSIONS: Although data on this subject are not clear, there should be more attention given to this matter. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Recently pneumothorax "secondary to marijuana" has been reported as a new nosological entity. Our study confirmes this conclusion. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships. KEYWORDS: pneumothorax, marijuana, young men

pneumothorax, marijuana, young men

nije evidentirano