How long should I wait to fly after having a partial spontaneous pneumothorax? I only smoked 4 cigarettes a day before this, and have quite since. I will be flying 11 weeks after this happened...also, how likely is it to okay again? I am a 33 year old female.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. In my opinion you should first quit smoking. As smokers are at great risk for recurrent pneumothorax irrespective of air travel. Air travel causes significant pressure changes and possibility of development of pneumothorax is high. And this will be even more if patient is smoker. Normally patient can do air travel after 6-7 weeks of pneumothorax. So you can definitely travel in plane after 11 weeks. But better to quit smoking first. This will increase chance of recurrence of pneumothorax.