First spontaneous pneumothorax — should I consider surgery?
Hi everyone, I’m 21 and recently had my first spontaneous pneumothorax on the right side.
I’m tall and very thin (180 cm / 47 kg) and I have never had a previous pneumothorax. I was admitted to the hospital after a chest X-ray showed a small air gap between the lung and chest wall. The doctors gave me oxygen and monitored me overnight. They told me it was small enough that I didn’t need a chest tube, and the air was expected to reabsorb on its own.
I was discharged with instructions to rest and avoid heavy lifting/exercise. At follow-up, the doctor said things were looking good and that the pneumothorax had not increased in size.
My main concern now is recurrence. I’ve read that spontaneous pneumothorax can come back, especially in young, thin people. I’m also worried about having another episode unexpectedly in the future.
For people who have been through something similar:
Did your pneumothorax come back after your first episode? If so, how long later?
Did anyone choose VATS surgery after their first pneumothorax even without a recurrence?
Looking back, do you think preventive surgery after the first episode was worth it?
If you had surgery, did it significantly reduce your anxiety about recurrence?
Would you personally consider VATS after a first small pneumothorax, or would you wait and only do it if it recurred?
Did your CT show blebs/bullae, and did that affect your decision?
I’m trying to understand whether surgery would be excessive in my situation or whether it can be a reasonable option to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.