Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Jun 2016)

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

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2016.49.3.185
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49, no. 3
pp. 185 – 189

Abstract

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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.

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