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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-0029v1 132/4/1140    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Amjadi, K. Articles by Noppen, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Amjadi, K. Articles by Noppen, M.

The prevalence of blebs or bullae among young healthy adults: A Thoracoscopic Investigation

¹Division of Respirology, University of Ottawa at The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ²Interventional Endoscopy Clinic, Respiratory Division, University Hospital AZ-VUB, Brussels, Belgium ³Division of Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

kamjadi{at}ottawahospital.on.ca

Abstract

Background: To determine the prevalence of blebs or bullae among young healthy adults using thoracoscopy and to compare patient characteristics between those with blebs and without blebs.

Methods: Bilateral thoracoscopic evaluation of the lungs was performed in healthy individuals who were referred for thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (TTS) for essential hyperhidrosis (EH). Participants were enrolled into a registry and followed for up to nine years.

Results: Analysis was performed on 250 consecutive cases. Blebs were observed in 15/250 (6%) individuals (male/female 6/9, mean age 25.3, range 15 - 51). Individuals with blebs had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (mean ± SD 20.7 ± 2.4 vs. 22.7 ± 3.4; P = 0.027), when compared to individuals without blebs, whereas all other parameters were similar. Blebs were most prevalent among slim individuals (BMI < 22 kg/m2) who smoked (OR = 5.9, 95% CI (1.19, 29.20)).

Conclusion: Blebs were identified thoracoscopically in 6% of young healthy adults with no underlying lung disease. Low BMI in combination with smoking may have an important role in the development of pleural blebs in healthy young adults however these changes may not be responsible for future spontaneous pneumothoraces.

Key Words: essential hyperhidrosis • primary spontaneous pneumothorax • thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy