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International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
[Residual postoperative pneumothorax: harmless radiological finding or complication-prone diagnosis?]
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|July 22, 1995
Summary
Residual pneumothorax after chest surgery is common but usually resolves without intervention. This study found that most cases of residual pneumothorax after lobectomy, bilobectomy, or decortication resolve spontaneously within a year.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Postoperative pneumothorax is a potential complication following thoracic surgical procedures.
- Understanding the natural history and management of residual pneumothorax is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence, predictors, and natural history of residual pneumothorax after lobectomy, bilobectomy, or decortication.
- To determine the necessity of interventions for residual pneumothorax in the absence of lung collapse.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 470 patients undergoing lobectomy, bilobectomy, or decortication between 1980 and 1991.
- Assessment of residual pneumothorax at discharge and during follow-up.
- Correlation analysis with patient demographics, surgical type, and operational date.
Main Results:
- A residual postoperative pneumothorax was observed in 20.7% of patients at discharge.
- No significant correlation was found with age, gender, surgical type, or stapling device introduction.
- 95% of residual pneumothoraces resolved spontaneously during follow-up, with 91% complete within one year.
- No empyema developed in patients with residual pneumothorax.
Conclusions:
- Residual postoperative pneumothorax is a common finding but typically benign.
- Intervention for residual pneumothorax is generally not required if lung collapse is absent.
- Spontaneous resolution is the norm, negating the need for space-filling maneuvers or repeat chest tube insertion.
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