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[Effectiveness of the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax using small caliber pleural catheter]
V Plaza1, J Serra-Batlles, M Lucas
1Sección de Neumología, Hospital General de Vic. Barcelona.
Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax (PT) by small caliber pleural catheter (SCPC) carried out by physicians with no surgical experience in the emergency department.
Methods:
Forty-eight patients with spontaneous PT (23 total, 4 of them tensional) were included in the study. An 8 French caliber polyethylene SCPC was inserted in all the patients requiring pleural drainage.
Results:
Thirty-two patients (67%) required pleural drainage. The catheter was carried for a mean of 4 days (1-7) resolving PT in 27 (84%) with no resolution being achieved in 5 (15%) and posterior surgical treatment being required. No major complications were observed during the evolution.
Conclusions:
The use of small caliber pleural catheters in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax (both total and to pressure) performed by physicians with no previous surgical knowledge is safe and effective.