A case of spontaneous pneumothorax during pregnancy and review of the literature.

Spontaneous pneumothorax is rare during pregnancy. A case of spontaneous pneumothorax occurring at 34 weeks' gestation in a healthy 25-year-old primigravida is described. Its occurrence was accompanied by sudden onset of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain while the patient was walking. Diagnosis was made by chest radiograph and treatment was by tube thoracostomy. At 41 weeks' gestation, after normal labor progression, she successfully gave birth to a male infant with a birth weight of 2,744 g. We discuss spontaneous pneumothorax during pregnancy and review the literature.