ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal treatment scheme for the first primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in young patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 171 patients with the first PSP were retrospectively analyzed who were treated in Huaihe Hospital of Henan University between November 2011 and October 2017. There were 157 males and 14 females with a median age of 18 years at onset and a median body mass index of 18.51 kg/m2. According to the treatment methods, they were classified into two groups, a conservative treatment group (a non-surgical group, n=86) and a surgical group (n=85). The characteristics including clinical data, efficacy evaluation criteria, complications and recurrence of the two groups were analyzed.ResultsAs a result, 73.68% of the patients suffered PSP in their daily routine. The drainage duration in the non-surgical group was longer than that in the surgical group (4 d vs. 3 d, P=0.008). There was no statistical difference in the success rate of lung re-expansion between the two groups (98.85% vs. 100.00%, P=1.000). The proportion of the surgical group using postoperative analgesic drugs was higher than that in the non-surgical group (48.23% vs. 10.46%, P=0.000). The recurrence rate of the surgical group was lower than that of the non-surgical group (3.53% vs. 46.51%, P=0.000). No relationship between smoking and recurrence of pneumothorax was found in both groups (P=0.301, P=1.000). The success rate of lung re-expansion in the non-surgical group was not statistically different between the 24F subgroup and the 12F subgroup (39/39 vs. 33/34, P=0.458). No advantage of intraoperative pleural fixation was found in the surgical group (P=0.693).ConclusionThoracoscopic surgery is the first choice for the treatment of the first PSP in young patients.