Table 2 Management of pneumothorax in HIV/TB patients

Coker RJ et al. 1993 [25]

Retrospective chart review

298 pts treated for AIDS, 16 episodes of pneumothorax

Treatment modality and mortality. 2 deaths. Increased association with PCP, 9.7% of PCP pts had pneumothorax

Small N, retrospective

Ingram RJ et al. 1996 [26]

Retrospective chart review

39 pts, 60 pneumothoraces total. 32 pneumothoraces from trauma

Mortality. Presence of PCP increased mortality 50% vs 25%

Not all trauma. Small N

Vricella LA and Trachiotis GD 2001 [27]

Retrospective, single institution chart review

47 patients with AIDS (CD4 <100) all with pneumothorax, a total of 59 pneumothoraces

11 patients died in-hospital (23.4%). 100% of patients had pneumothorax resolution with Heimlich valve after failed thoracostomy

Retrospective, use of Heimlich valve not controlled. No traumatic non-iatrogenic pneumothoraces

Cabrera-Cordero JA et al. 2008 [28]

Retrospective case series

12 pts, age >15, all HIV positive, admitted to hospital for pneumothorax. 11 were male. 10 had AIDS. 6.9% of all HIV-positive patients had pneumothorax

6 had spontaneous pneumothorax, 6 with iatrogenic traumatic pneumothorax. All pneumothoraces were large and managed with pleurectomies. 7 had post op complications. 4 (33.3%) died

Small observational study. All pneumothoraces were large. No traumatic non-iatrogenic pneumothoraces