Abstract
In a retrospective survey of 195 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, 100 had a deep (greater than 20%) air space. Thirty one patients were considered unsuitable for aspiration because of complicating disease. Sixty nine patients were treated by aspiration, and in 45 of these reexpansion was sufficient for the case to be managed as shallow pneumothorax while the patient remained ambulant. The average initial aspiration from the 69 patients was 1 X 1 litres. The intrapleural pressure was subatmospheric in only 22 (49%) of the 45 successfully aspirated patients. A chest radiograph several hours after aspiration is the principal control required for this treatment. The recurrence rate was 11.1%. Of 95 patients with a shallow pneumothorax, 3 were intubated for progressive lung collapse and the remainder were encouraged to lead a normal life. The recurrence rate was 11.6%. Retrospectively, it was concluded that 137 patients (70%) had a closed pneumothorax at diagnosis. Primary intubation of all patients with a deep pneumothorax would have represented overtreatment.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bevelaqua F. A., Aranda C. Management of spontaneous pneumothorax with small lumen catheter manual aspiration. Chest. 1982 Jun;81(6):693–694. doi: 10.1378/chest.81.6.693. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hamilton A. A., Archer G. J. Treatment of pneumothorax by simple aspiration. Thorax. 1983 Dec;38(12):934–936. doi: 10.1136/thx.38.12.934. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Horne N. W. Spontaneous pneumothorax: diagnosis and management. Br Med J. 1966 Jan 29;1(5482):281–284. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5482.281. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stradling P., Poole G. Conservative management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Thorax. 1966 Mar;21(2):145–149. doi: 10.1136/thx.21.2.145. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]