[Surgical treatment of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax].

88 cases of bacterial spontaneous pneumothorax, 20 cases, occurred same time and 68 cases, occurred different time, were treated in our Department of Thoracic Surgery from 1975 to July 1987, and represented 16.6% of all cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. The characteristics of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, occurred same time, were as follows; 1) frequent in teens, 2) often occurred with history of unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, 3) slightly collapsed. For the treatment of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, occurred same time, bilateral thoracotomy was necessary. The characteristics of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, occurred different time, were as follows; 1) frequent in the twenties, 2) often occurred the other side after unilateral thoracotomy within a year. For the treatment of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, occurred different time, if the patient is under 20 thoracotomy must be carried out, but if the patient is over 20 at the side of pneumothorax must be operated.