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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
05:50
International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
Spontaneous pneumothorax. When and how to treat
Efestatious K Metaxas1, Nicolas Condilis, Nicolas Tzatzadakis
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, General State Hospital "Agios Panteleimon" of Nikaia, Piraeus, Greece.
Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
|May 24, 2007
Summary
Most spontaneous pneumothorax cases do not require surgery. Approximately 90% of patients can be successfully treated with conservative methods or closed thoracic drainage, avoiding invasive thoracotomy.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Spontaneous pneumothorax can affect patients with or without prior lung disease.
- This condition can be primary or secondary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency, causes, and treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.
- To compare findings with existing Greek and international literature.
- To evaluate treatment outcomes in a cohort of 275 patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 275 patients treated between 1992 and 2002.
- Data collection on patient demographics, etiology, symptoms, and treatment modalities.
- Comparison of treatment strategies and outcomes.
Main Results:
- A total of 275 patients (230 male, 45 female) were treated.
- Analysis of frequency correlated with age, sex, and causes.
- Evaluation of different treatment approaches.
Conclusions:
- Only about 10% of spontaneous pneumothorax patients require surgical intervention (thoracotomy).
- The majority of cases can be managed non-surgically.
- Conservative management and closed thoracic drainage are effective alternatives for most patients.
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