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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 57(7): 409-412
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185721
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Role of Meteorological Conditions on the Development of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

B. Çelik1 , H. Kefeli Çelik2 , H. Hamzaçebi3 , H. Demir3 , K. Furtun3 , C. Ortamevzi4
  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical School, Samsun, Turkey
  • 2Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical School, Samsun, Turkey
  • 3Department of Thoracic Surgery, Samsun Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
  • 4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Samsun State Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

received January 13, 2009

Publication Date:
30 September 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weather conditions and pneumothorax episodes in the patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) admitted to our hospitals. Methods: One hundred and seventy-five patients diagnosed with SP and admitted to two hospitals in our area between January 2004 and January 2007 were included in this study. Data comparison was made between the days with and without pneumothorax. Results: 159 of the patients (91 %) were male and 16 (9 %) were female. During the study a total of 202 SP episodes were observed. Pneumothorax episodes were observed mostly in autumn and in June and November out of all twelve months. There was no statistical difference in atmospheric pressure, temperature or humidity between the days with and those without pneumothorax. No statistical difference was observed in the atmospheric pressure changes between the days with pneumothorax. Conclusion: In our area, no relationship was observed between pneumothorax episodes and meteorological conditions in cases with SP, but attacks were found to occur more often in certain seasons and months. We believe that more significant results could be obtained if similar studies are conducted in other regions or maybe all over the country.

Key words

spontaneous pneumothorax - atmospheric pressure - temperature - humidity

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Dr. Burçin Çelik

Department of Thoracic Surgery
Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical School

Kurupelit

55139 Samsun

Turkey

Phone: + 90 36 23 12 19 19/27 01

Fax: + 90 36 24 57 60 41

Email: cburcin@hotmail.com

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