[Spontaneous pneumothorax: drainage by catheter or chest tube?]

One hundred and fourteen spontaneous pneumothorax, idiopathic or with chest disease, were retrospectively analysed in order to compare the efficacy of suction drainage by small lumen IV catheter and by chest tube. Age, importance and tolerance of spontaneous pneumothorax were similar in both groups. Frequency of recidive and failure as well as duration of drainage were also not different. So we advocate the use of suction drainage by small lumen IV catheter. The efficacy is the same than with chest tube. But the technic is more simple and less traumatic.