DARREN
MY SON IS 14 YEARS OLD. IN NOVEMBER HE HAD A SPONTANEOUS PNUMOTHORAX. HE IS TALL AND SKINNY AND PLAYS A LOT OF FOOTBALL. THE LUNG WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED AND WOULD NOT EXPAND WITH ASPIRATION SO A TUBE WAS INSERTED. THIS STILL DID NOT WORK AND SUCTION WAS ADDED. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED DURING MICRO- SURGERY THAT SEVERAL BLISTER BLEBS WERE PRESENT. THESE WERE REMOVED AND A PLEURECTOMY PERFORMED. TWO MORE DRAINAGE TUBES WERE INSERTED. THE LUNG INFLATED BUT ON REMOVAL OF THE TUBES AIR ENTERED IN THROUGH THE WOUNDS AND CAUSED THE LUNG TO COLLAPSE AGAIN BY 50%. hE HAD BY NOW BEEN THROUGH QUITE A LOT AND SPENT 3 WEEKS IN HOSPITAL. HE HAS BEEN LET OUT OF HOSPITAL AS THEY SAY THAT IT IS AIR FROM OUTSIDE THAT HAS GOT IN AND WILL NATURALLY DISPERSE INTO THE BODY OVER A PERIOD OF 20 - 30 DAYS. AT LAST CHECK UP AT THE HOSPITAL 20TH DECEMBER IT HAD INFLATED 90% AND WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR NEXT CHECK UP ON 17TH JANUARY. IT IS VERY WORRYING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO A FIT YOUNG PERSON AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN WITH HIM. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL DARYL.