[Results of the conservative treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax]

This work presents the results of the conservative treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. 315 cases hospitalized between 1965 and 1976 were analysed. The study was carried out regarding results, number of relapses, kind of diagnosis, symptoms and other parameters in dependence on form of therapy. In 18 cases serious complications were observed. The fractionated suction of air by means of the pneumothoracic apparatus the most frequent procedure, was applied in 199 cases, having relapses in 33%. In 57% of all cases this treatment led to a permanent reinflation of the lungs. With suction only and without any activities the relapse quotients were 33% and 53.5% respectively; with continued lung drainage it was as low as 20%. Only 12 patients needed a thoracotomy. Cases wanting long term primary lung drainage were very rare (3.45%). The results showed that the conservative internal treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is justified in the most cases.