Evaluation of the Relationship Between Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax and Exercise and Return to Previous Activities in Patients Referring to Hospitals of Rasht during 2015–2017

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is subpleural bleb apical rupture. Little is known about the relationship between PSP and exercise and return to exercise the time. In this study, we tend to investigate the relationship between training and PSP and time of return to exercise and previous activities. METHOD: This study was designed as a case series and the sample size included all patients diagnosed with PSP in Razi and Poursina and Aria hospitals of Rasht during 2015–2017 based on inclusion criteria. Variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, Mann Whitney U and t-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The most common treatment type in patients was transaxillary thoracotomy with pleurodesis with iodine (TTP) in 58.2% and tube thoracostomy and pleurodesis in 41.7%, which was not statistically significant between athletes and non-athletes (p=0.806). Athletes who underwent TTP after four weeks and those treated with tube thoracostomy and pleurodesis after 8–12 weeks were advised to return to their previous activity. Of athletes, 9.5% had a recurrence; of non-athletes, 9.8% had a recurrence. Of athletes, 4.8% did not tolerate returning to their last activity; of non-athletes, 7.3% did not tolerate returning to their previous activity regardless of treatment, and this difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Our study showed no significant difference between clinical manifestations and image findings and the frequency of treatment and complications in both athlete and non-athlete patients. There is no increase in recurrence and intolerance at the time recommended for return to previous activity.