Profiles of Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothoraces in Tuberculosis Endemic Areas

Authors: Thiam K., Soumare P. M., Cisse M. F., Mbaye F. B. R., Badaoui R., Toure N.

Abstract:

Introduction: Pneumothorax is said to be secondary when it occurs on a pathological lung. In sub-Saharan Africa, tuberculosis is the main cause of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. it want to show through this work whether the epidemiological transition has not modified the profile of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study from January 1 to December 31, 2022 (12 months), including all patients admitted for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, treated in the said department. Data entry was carried out using Epi info version 7 and Excel 2016 software. Results: 64 cases of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were recorded. The majority of patients were aged between 25 and 54 years. Most were drivers or farmers. The main products to which they were exposed were hydrocarbons and chemical fertilizers with an average duration of exposure of 19.7 years +/- 12.7. More than half of the patients were smokers (59.4%). The main etiology was tuberculosis (53.1%). Half of the patients (50%) had a medical history dominated by tuberculosis, and pneumothorax represented 18.8%. Chest CT scan showed emphysema bullae (31.3%), excavations (23.7%), nodules (1.6%) and honeycomb (1.6%). Tuberculosis and pulmonary emphysema were the main causes with 53.1% (n = 34) and 26.6% (n = 17) respectively. Conclusion: Despite the epidemiological transition undergone by countries with endemic tuberculosis, the main etiology of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax remains tuberculosis even if it is followed by emphysema.

Keywords: drivers, farmers, tuberculosis, emphysema