O pneumotórax, ou a presença de ar livre na cavidade pleural, é uma condição freqüente na prática clínica. As normas de conduta para a abordagem do pneumotórax dependem das condições clinicas do paciente, da magnitude do pneumotórax e da presença ou ausência de doença pulmonar concomitante. Neste capítulo, apresentamos as diretrizes diagnósticas e de conduta para uma abordagem mais racional do pneumotórax.

The presence of free air in the pleural space, or pneumothorax, is a frequent condition in the clinical practice. The therapeutic approach of the pneumothorax depends on the clinical conditions of the patient, the magnitude of the disease and the presence or absence of underlying lung disease. In this chapter we emphasize the diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for a rational approach of the pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhidrosis or excessive sudoresis is a chronic disease associated with important subjective distress. OBJECTIVE: To propose a specific questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of patients with hyperhidrosis. METHODS: From October 1995 to March 2002, 378 patients (234 females), with a mean age of 26.8 years, were evaluated before and after video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy. RESULTS: Therapeutic success was obtained in 90% of the procedures. The recurrence rate was 10% for palmar and 11% for axillary hyperhidrosis; 27% of the patients who had recurrence were re-operated successfully. No serious complications were reported. Of the total number of patients, 91% answered to the quality of life questionnaire, and 86% of them reported improvement after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic sympathectomy is a therapeutic method capable of changing the quality of life of patients with hyperhidrosis. The questionnaire applied has shown these changes.