Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Jun;49(3):185-9. doi: 10.5090/kjtcs.2016.49.3.185. Epub 2016 Jun 05.

Outpatient Treatment for Pneumothorax Using a Portable Small-Bore Chest Tube: A Clinical Report.

The Korean journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery

Won Gi Woo, Seok Joo, Geun Dong Lee, Seok Jin Haam, Sungsoo Lee

PMID: 27298796 PMCID: PMC4900861 DOI: 10.5090/kjtcs.2016.49.3.185

Abstract

BACKGROUND: For treatment of pneumothorax in Korea, many institutions hospitalize the patient after chest tube insertion. In this study, a portable small-bore chest tube (Thoracic Egg; Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was used for pneumothorax management in an outpatient clinic.

METHODS: Between August 2014 and March 2015, 56 pneumothorax patients were treated using the Thoracic Egg.

RESULTS: After Thoracic Egg insertion, 44 patients (78.6%) were discharged from the emergency room for follow-up in the outpatient clinic, and 12 patients (21.4%) were hospitalized. The mean duration of Thoracic Egg chest tube placement was 4.8 days, and the success rate was 73%; 20% of patients showed incomplete expansion and underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. For primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients, the success rate of the Thoracic Egg was 76.6% and for iatrogenic pneumothorax, it was 100%. There were 2 complications using the Thoracic Egg.

CONCLUSION: Outpatient treatment of pneumothorax using the Thoracic Egg could be a good treatment option for primary spontaneous and iatrogenic pneumothorax.

Keywords: Chest tubes; Outpatients; Pneumothorax

References

1. Chest. 1984 Nov;86(5):714-7 - PubMed
2. N Engl J Med. 2000 Mar 23;342(12):868-74 - PubMed
3. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Sep;62(6):516-20 - PubMed
4. Chest. 1988 Jul;94(1):55-7 - PubMed
5. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii18-31 - PubMed
6. Am J Emerg Med. 2011 Nov;29(9):1152-7 - PubMed
7. Chest. 2001 Feb;119(2):590-602 - PubMed
8. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Mar;58(3):113-9 - PubMed

Publication Types

• Journal Article