Treatment of spontaneous uncomplicated pneumothorax with aspiration

Between December 1989 and December 1990, nine patients with significant, uncomplicated, spontaneous pneumothoraces were treated by simple aspiration in the Medical Department, Alexandra Hospital. Only one had a residual 30% pneumothorax that required further aspiration with good results. The majority of the patients stayed three days in hospital. These nine patients were reviewed at various periods between four weeks to twelve months with no recurrence of pneumothoraces. The discomfort and inconvenience of an intercostal tube insertion was avoided. Risk of damage to the lung was minimal. No scar was left behind. Total cost of the procedure and hospitalisation was much less compared with intercostal intubation.