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International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
Pneumothorax: Demographics, Treatment, and Nursing Care
Ivana Herak1, Mirna Korpar1,2, Sonja Obranić1
1Department of Nursing, University North, 104 Brigade 3, 42000 Varazdin, Croatia.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Older men with pneumothorax face significant nursing care needs. Advanced age is linked to invasive treatments and poorer outcomes, highlighting a need for targeted care strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Nursing science
- Public health
Background:
- Pneumothorax presents a significant nursing care burden, with limited contemporary data from Croatia.
- This study addresses the scarcity of combined medical and nursing data for pneumothorax patients in Croatia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the demographic profile of pneumothorax patients.
- To outline treatment patterns and nursing care requirements.
- To explore factors linked to chest drainage and adverse nursing-sensitive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional analysis of 60 patients admitted between 2019-2021.
- Data extracted from hospital information and electronic nursing records.
- Statistical analysis included Fisher exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and L1-penalised logistic regression.
Main Results:
- The study included 60 patients; 65% were male, and 55% were aged 60+.
- Spontaneous pneumothorax (45%) was most common, followed by traumatic (38.3%) and iatrogenic (16.7%).
- Age 60+ was independently associated with chest drainage (aOR 3.67), prolonged stay (aOR 3.69), and functional decline (aOR 4.29).
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized pneumothorax patients in this Croatian centre were predominantly older men requiring substantial nursing care.
- Older age is a key factor associated with invasive treatment and adverse nursing-sensitive outcomes.
- Findings provide a baseline for Croatia, requiring further hypothesis-generating research due to study limitations.
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