Rethinking routine chest drainage in pneumothorax management: Outcomes from a nationwide Japanese database

The optimal management of pneumothorax remains controversial, with evolving evidence challenging the conventional approach of routine chest drainage.

We analyzed data of 1773 patients (956 with primary spontaneous pneumothorax [PSP], 817 with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax [SSP]) from a nationwide Japanese database. Multivariate and propensity score matching analyses identified factors associated with drainage requirement and compared outcomes between drainage and non-drainage groups.

Pneumothorax grade was the most significant determinant of chest drainage requirement in both PSP (moderate: odds ratio [OR] 12.5, severe: OR 22.6 vs. mild, p < 0.001) and SSP patients (moderate: OR 16.1, severe: OR 26.9 vs. mild, p < 0.001), with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being an additional factor in SSP (OR 3.04). PSP patients without drainage had shorter hospital stays (median: 6.0 vs. 8.0 days, p < 0.001) and more frequently underwent surgery. SSP patients without drainage had lower ICU admission rates and shorter hospitalization (median: 11.0 vs. 14.0 days, p < 0.001). The benefits of non-drainage were observed across all pneumothorax grades in PSP, while in severe SSP, drainage was associated with better outcomes. After matching for pneumothorax grade, non-drainage PSP patients had shorter stays in both non-surgical (median: 2 vs. 6 days, p < 0.001) and surgical subgroups (median: 5 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001). Mortality rates were comparable between groups.

While pneumothorax grade remains the key determinant for chest drainage, carefully selected patients may be successfully managed without drainage, with shorter hospital stays without compromising outcomes. Refined criteria for non-drainage management could improve resource utilization and patient experience.