Sudden lung collapse, called spontaneous pneumothorax, can attack unexpectedly and cause people to breathe heavily. Despite significant progress in treatment, managing this situation remains challenging due to the lack of generally accepted guidelines for care and the unpredictable nature of its recurrence nature. Surgical interventions are often recommended for recurring cases, but even this advanced treatment does not completely eliminate the chance of recurrence. To treat this complex respiratory disease, it is crucial to understand the long-term outcomes of such procedures.
A study led by Dr. Ryo Nonomura, Dr. Ryuga Yabe, Dr. Yutaka Oshima, Dr. Takanobu Sasaki, Dr. Takanobu Sasaki, Dr. Naoya Ishibashi and Dr. Takafumi Sugawara of Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University University. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, analyzed the long-term recurrence rates and highlighted the difficulty of following patients after surgery. The study depends on data collected through mailed surveys, demonstrating the importance of consistent follow-up care.
Although lung collapse is often manageable, it presents significant obstacles based on patient trends due to its frequent trends and changing prognosis. Advances in surgical technology can help reduce recurrence rates, but some groups are still at greater risk. The study focused on the survey responses of patients treated over the past decade, providing a rare, comprehensive look to their recovery journey.
The results of the study show that there are significant differences in the recurrence rates based on age. Teens are particularly prone to experiencing another lung collapse within a few years after surgery. On the other hand, older patients have much lower risk of recurrence. “Adolescents exhibit higher rates of ipsilateral recurrence, or repeated collapse on the same side of the chest, while contralateral attacks mean a new collapse occurred on the opposite side after surgery, a trend that peaked three years after surgery.” This observation highlights the urgent need for extended follow-up care to closely monitor young patients and respond to their unique risks.
The study also elucidates factors that influence the success of follow-up work. Young people are more likely to relocate, so it is difficult to track their recovery. Although mailed surveys achieved reliable participation rates, challenges such as outdated or unknown addresses remained. Researchers suggest that digital tools like online surveys can improve communication with patients and enhance monitoring methods over time. “The difficulty of conducting follow-up investigations has increased over the years after the surgery,” Dr. Nonomura noted, adding that modern tools can provide practical solutions to the problem.
The results of this study highlight the importance of tailor treatment strategies for patients with lung collapse, especially adolescents facing higher chances of relapse. Future therapeutic improvements may involve reducing reliance on traditional approaches, such as pleural adhesions, which are intentional scars in the lungs lined to prevent collapse, but increase inflammation and complicate healing. Dr. Nonomura stressed: “The pathogenesis or causes and development of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax is unknown and is necessary to accumulate as much data as possible.” Such data will enable better prevention and care strategies.
Although the healthcare system strives to improve outcomes in patients with lung collapse, this study provides a roadmap for refining postoperative protocols and exploring innovative follow-up approaches. Dr. Nonomura and his team stressed that addressing care gaps can lead to more effective and reliable practices that ultimately reduce the burden of relapse and improve the quality of life of patients.
Journal Reference
Nonomura R., Yabe R., Oshima Y., Sasaki T., Ishibashi N., Sugawara T. “Spontaneous pneumothorax after surgery: follow-up challenges revealed by long-term recurrence rates and written surveys.” Plos One, 2024. Doi:
About the Author
Dr. Ryo Nonomura: I am an assistant professor in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Tohoku University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmaceuticals. I graduated from Shimane University in 2012 and received my PhD from Tohoku University in 2025. My study focuses on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of spontaneous pneumothorax, as well as the perioperative risk assessment of lung cancer in lung cancer using quantitative imaging. I used 3D imaging software to analyze human morphology in pneumothorax cases and explore minimally invasive surgical methods including thoracoscopy and robot assisted technologies for the treatment of lung cancer.
