Pneumothorax and insertion of a chest drain

A pneumothorax occurs when the visceral or parietal pleura is breached and air enters the pleural space. This leads to loss of the negative intrapleural pressure and lung collapse. Pneumothoraces may be classified into ‘simple’, ‘tension’ or ‘open’ according to the underlying pathophysiology. A chest radiograph is essential in diagnosis and management. Tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency, relieved initially with needle thoracentesis, but treated definitively with a chest drain. The latter is inserted in all cases where aspiration is unsuccessful in controlling symptoms in a simple pneumothorax. A thoracic surgical opinion should be sought if there is persistent air leak from the drain or the lung fails to re-expand after three days.A chest drain is used to drain air, blood, fluid or pus from the pleural space. Proper attention should be paid to patient preparation, which should include full asepsis, appropriate patient positioning, and application of National Patient Safety Agency recommendations. A chest drain is usually inserted under local anaesthesia in the ‘safe triangle’ in the lateral chest wall using blunt dissection. The drains should not be clamped in cases of pneumothorax, and the drainage bottle should always be kept below the level of the patient’s chest.     

Neumotórax primario espontáneo durante el embarazo: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Spontaneous pneumothorax in pregnancy is an extremely rare cause of dyspnea with less than 100 cases reported in the literature. A 28-year-old primigravida at 39⁺⁴ weeks of gestation presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. A chest radiograph revealed a large, left-sided pneumothorax with a collapsed lung. A chest tube was placed with incomplete re-expansion of the lung. A cesarean section under epidural anesthesia was performed for suspected macrosomia. The postpartum was uneventful. Despite its rarity, spontaneous pneumothorax should be excluded in every pregnant woman presenting with sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain. A heightened index of suspicion is essential for prompt management of this condition, avoiding adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. For a correct diagnosis and management, more solid recommendations and a multidisciplinary approach are needed.     

A place for aspiration in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.

In a retrospective survey of 195 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, 100 had a deep (greater than 20%) air space. Thirty one patients were considered unsuitable for aspiration because of complicating disease. Sixty nine patients were treated by aspiration, and in 45 of these reexpansion was sufficient for the case to be managed as shallow pneumothorax while the patient remained ambulant. The average initial aspiration from the 69 patients was 1 X 1 litres. The intrapleural pressure was subatmospheric in only 22 (49%) of the 45 successfully aspirated patients. A chest radiograph several hours after aspiration is the principal control required for this treatment. The recurrence rate was 11.1%. Of 95 patients with a shallow pneumothorax, 3 were intubated for progressive lung collapse and the remainder were encouraged to lead a normal life. The recurrence rate was 11.6%. Retrospectively, it was concluded that 137 patients (70%) had a closed pneumothorax at diagnosis. Primary intubation of all patients with a deep pneumothorax would have represented overtreatment.     

The risk for re-expansion pulmonary edema following spontaneous pneumothorax

Purpose

Re-expansion pulmonary edema is an uncommon condition that occurs when a collapsed lung is expanded. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with re-expansion pulmonary edema which may occur as a complication when carrying out treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods

A total of 462 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax treated with chest tube drainage in inpatient settings at the Nissan Tamagawa Hospital during the 6-year period between January 2007 and December 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. The data were analyzed to identify any clinical differences between the patients with and without re-expansion pulmonary edema.

Results

Re-expansion pulmonary edema occurred on 30 (6.5 %) of the 462 patients. The duration of lung collapse in the patients with re-expansion pulmonary edema was longer than that observed in the patients without re-expansion pulmonary edema. (7.7 ± 9.1 and 2.4 ± 4.6 days). This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The extent of lung collapse in the patients with re-expansion pulmonary edema was more severe than that observed in the patients without re-expansion pulmonary edema. This difference was also statistically significant (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

The results suggest that treating spontaneous pneumothorax using chest tube drainage requires careful consideration in view of the relatively high incidence of re-expansion pulmonary edema, especially in cases associated with long periods of lung collapse or large spontaneous pneumothoraxes.     

Pneumothorax and chest drain insertion

A pneumothorax is caused by air or gas in the pleural space. This causes lung collapse and a variable degree of impairment of both oxygenation and ventilation. Depending on the degree of lung collapse (determined by the size of the pneumothorax) and the underlying respiratory reserve and co-morbidities of the patient the clinical picture can vary from asymptomatic to life-threatening. The initial management varies with the clinical picture as well as the aetiology and size of the pneumothorax. It ranges from observation only (for small primary spontaneous pneumothorax), to needle aspiration or chest drain insertion. Chest drain insertion is a common procedure used routinely to not only drain the chest cavity of air as is the case with a pneumothorax but is also used to drain blood (haemothorax), chyle (chylothorax), pleural fluid or pus (empyema) from the chest cavity. It is the most common procedure in thoracic trauma and both Seldinger and open surgical chest drain insertion are discussed.     

Timing of invasive procedures in therapy for primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

Timing of invasive procedures during chest tube therapy in spontaneous pneumothorax is undefined. Evaluation of 115 patients with primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax treated with tube thoracostomy revealed nearly maximal healing rates after 48 hours without a relevant increase if drainage was maintained for up to 10 days. In secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, a significantly lower healing rate was observed after 48 hours compared with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (60% vs 82%). Therapeutic success was not predictable by single clinical variables available at admission (eg, age, gender, and smoking habits) nor by their combinations. Recurrence rates were 30% in both primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Hospital stay averaged 6 days in primary and 15 days in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Considering their efficacy and the low incidence of complications, the early use of invasive procedures such as surgical pleurectomy, after 48 hours of persistent gas leaking, seems justified. Shorter in-patient care and lower recurrence rates may result.     

Catheter drainage of spontaneous pneumothorax: suction or no suction,early or late removal?

Twenty-three patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 30 patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax treated by intercostal catheter drainage with underwater seal were divided randomly into two groups, one receiving suction drainage (up to 20 cm H2O pressure) and the other no suction. The success rate was 57% for the former and 50% for the latter. The suction group spent an average of five days in hospital, whereas the non-suction group averaged four days. Suction drainage therefore did not have any advantage. To determine how soon the catheter could be removed without complication, patients were also divided randomly into two subgroups--one had the catheter removed, without previous clamping, as soon as the lung was expanded; the other had the catheters left in situ for a further three days. The success rate was 52% for the former, and 53% for the latter. But most of the failure in the early removal group was caused by re-collapse of the lung rather than persistent air leakage; hence removal of the catheter too early was not recommended.     

Pleural abrasion in the treatment of recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax. Results of 94 consecutive cases.

In the ten-year period 1982 to 1991, 94 patients underwent pleural abrasion as definite treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax. Surgical indications included: 1) third recurrence of homolateral pneumothorax, 2) second recurrence of homolateral pneumothorax in the presence of alternating pneumothorax, and 3) persistent air leak with incomplete lung re-expansion in the presence of spontaneous pneumothorax treated with pleural drainage for more than 10 days. No deaths were observed in the present series. Post-operative complications were minimal and all reversible, including two cases of pleural effusion, one case of hemothorax, and one case of Horner's syndrome. Eighty cases were followed up from 7 to 91 months. No recurrences occurred during the follow-up period. Clinical, radiological and functional results appear satisfactory. Pleural abrasion seems to represent a valid surgical option in the treatment of recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax.     

Diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis by ultrasound guided percutaneous aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is useful for locating thoracic lesions and guiding biopsy procedures. The use of sonographic appearances and ultrasound guided needle aspiration has led to the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis at this hospital. METHODS: Six hundred and eight patients who had ultrasound guided lung aspirations were reviewed retrospectively and nine with documented pulmonary cryptococcosis were collected. All patients had nodules or infiltrates on the chest radiograph. The needle aspirates obtained under ultrasound guidance were stained by Riu's or Papanicolaou's method or with India ink, and six were sent for culture. Five patients also underwent bronchoscopy and biopsy. RESULTS: The nine patients had 18 pulmonary lesions, of which 15 were nodules and three infiltrates. Fifteen lesions were detectable by ultrasound, which showed the nodules to be hypoechoic with eccentrically located air echoes. In eight of the nine cases cryptococci were detected after the lung aspirates had been stained with Riu's or Papanicolaou stain or with India ink. In five of the six aspirates sent for fungal culture Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated. The diagnostic yield was higher than that of bronchoscopy. None developed post-aspiration pneumothorax or any evidence of late dissemination. CONCLUSIONS: Because they tend to be subpleural pulmonary cryptococcal lesions seem to be identifiable by ultrasound. Ultrasound guided lung aspiration is an effective, rapid, and safe method for diagnosis.     

Video-assisted direct closure of bronchial fistula

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a well-established method for managing persistent air leak in spontaneous pneumothorax. We describe a case of complicated spontaneous secondary pneumothorax in a patient with bullous emphysema that was treated by video-assisted manual suture of the bronchial fistula at the end of the right upper bronchus.     

Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Children: A Single Institution Protocol Analysis

BackgroundThe Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium (MWPSC) suggested a simple aspiration of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) protocol, failing which, Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) should be considered. We describe our outcomes using this suggested protocol.MethodsA single institution retrospective analysis was conducted on patients between 12 and 18 years who were diagnosed with PSP from 2016 to 2021. Initial management involved aspiration alone with a ≤12 F percutaneous thoracostomy tube followed by clamping of the tube and chest radiograph at 6 h. Success was defined as ≤2 cm distance between chest wall and lung at the apex and no air leak when the clamp was released. VATS followed if aspiration failed.ResultsFifty-nine patients were included. Median age was 16.8 years (IQR 15.9, 17.3). Aspiration was successful in 33% (20), while 66% (39) required VATS. The median LOS with successful aspiration was 20.4 h (IQR 16.8, 34.8), while median LOS after VATS was 3.1 days (IQR 2.6, 4). In comparison, in the MWPSC study, the mean LOS for those managed with a chest tube after failed aspiration was 6.0 days (±5.5). Recurrence after successful aspiration was 45% (n = 9), while recurrence after VATS was 25% (n = 10). Median time to recurrence after successful aspiration was sooner than that of the VATS group [16.6 days (IQR 5.4, 19.2) vs. 389.5 days (IQR 94.1, 907.0) p = 0.01].ConclusionSimple aspiration is safe and effective initial management for children with PSP, although most will require VATS. However, early VATS reduces length of stay and morbidity.Level of evidenceIV. Retrospective study.     

A case of anesthetic management for re-expansion pulmonary edema of the dependent lung saved by superimposed HFJV during one lung ventilation for the thoracoscopic operation associated with bilateral pneumothorax

A 21-year-old male with bilateral pneumothorax underwent thoracoscopic bullaectomy in the lateral decubitus position. General anesthesia was induced using thiopental 250 mg and suxamethonium 80 mg and maintained using the combination of the thoracic-epidural anesthesia with assisted spontaneous respiration. He was intubated with a tube equipped with mobile bronchial cuff. On the left bullaectomy, two lung ventilation (TLV) was applied and its course was uneventful. On the right, one lung ventilation (OLV) was done. Fifty minutes after the start of OLV of the left lung, percutaneous arterial hemoglobin saturation (SpO2) declined to 60% with PaO2 36 mmHg. Then, under super imposed HFJV (high frequency jet ventilation) added to manual assisted ventilation through the bronchial brocker, SpO2 increased rapidly to 100%. Postoperative chest X-p showed signs of re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) in the dependent, left lung. PaO2 after 25 minutes of hypoxic episode increased to 339.2 mmHg. About 2 hours later he was extubated uneventfully. We conclude that superimposed HFJV is very beneficial for treatment of the RPE of the dependent lung during OLV applied for thoracoscopic operation with bilateral pneumothorax.     

活检相反体位穿刺抽气治疗CT引导下肺穿刺活检所致气胸

目的探讨采用与活检相反体位穿刺抽气对治疗CT引导下肺穿刺活检并发气胸的意义。方法收集CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检术后并发气胸并接受抽气治疗的102例患者,观察比较单纯抽气与单纯抽气+与活检相反体位穿刺抽气对治疗肺穿刺术后并发气胸的效果。结果 102例接受单纯抽气治疗的患者中,72例(72/102,70.59%)患者单纯抽吸治疗有效,其中18例完全缓解,54例部分缓解;30例(30/102,29.41%)单纯抽气无效,采用与活检相反体后穿刺抽气,其中8例完全缓解,20例部分缓解,2例患者抽气治疗失败而转采用胸腔置管术;改进抽气治疗方法后,抽气治疗气胸总有效率由70.59%(72/102)上升至98.04%(100/102)。结论采用单纯抽气+与活检相反体位穿刺抽气可以有效治疗CT引导下肺穿刺活检术后发生的气胸,从而减少使用胸腔置管术,为一种安全、有效的气胸微创处理方法。     

86例肺大泡破裂的外科处理

本文介绍86例肺大泡破裂的外科治疗，患者多为青少年，＜35岁者占64％，男女性之比为5：1，作者认为：（1）肺大泡破裂引起的自发性气胸有双侧同时发病或交叉发闰及保守治疗后容易复的特点。（2）患者常无肺部基础病变；（3）常规X线检查是诊断气胸的基本方法。但难以发现肺大泡病灶。（4）气胸多次发作，支气管胸膜瘘长期不愈，肺被纤维素膜板包裹不能复张者，以及首次发作气胸经胸腔闭式引流72小时以上仍无改善者，采用手术疗法，逐一处理所有肺大泡 ，可避免气胸复发。     

Pneumothorax and chest drain insertion

Chest drain insertion is a common procedure used routinely to drain the chest cavity. It can be used to drain air, as is the case of a pneumothorax, or to drain blood (heamothorax), chyle (chylothorax), fluid (pleural effusion) or pus (empyema) from the chest cavity. It is the commonest procedure performed for thoracic trauma. Seldinger and open surgical chest drain insertion are both discussed, as well as the use of ultrasound guidance to aid insertion/aspiration. Air (or fluid) in the pleural cavity causes the lung to collapse and results in a variable degree of impairment of both oxygenation and ventilation. Depending on the degree of lung collapse (determined by the size of the pneumothorax), the respiratory reserve and the comorbidities of the patient the clinical picture can vary from asymptomatic to life threatening. The initial patient management depends on the clinical picture as well as the size and aetiology of the pneumothorax. Management ranges from observation only (for small primary spontaneous pneumothoraces), to needle aspiration or chest drain insertion.     

Persistent pneumothorax treated with continuous positive airway pressure

A patient who presented with persistent pneumothorax after blunt chest trauma is described. The lung re-expanded partially in response to chest drain suction but some areas remained collapsed. The institution of continuous positive airway pressure on an intermittent basis, was followed by complete re-expansion of the lung and resolution of the pneumothorax.     

电视胸腔镜治疗自发性气胸35例报告

目的　评价自发性气胸胸腔镜不同方法处理肺大泡的结果。方法　我院外科 1998年 10月～ 2 0 0 3年 5月对 3 5例自发性气胸病人施行电视胸腔镜手术。原发性气胸 2 7例 ,继发性气胸 8例。肺大泡处理方法 :Endo -GIA 5例共 12个 ,平均 2 .4个。圈套结扎 肺大泡切除 6例 9个。单纯圈套结扎 16例 3 3个 ,平均 2 .1个。钛夹钳夹 5例。未查到 3例。结果　Endo -GIA 5例 ,漏气 1例 ( 2 0 % )。圈套结扎 肺大泡切除 6例 ,漏气 2例 ( 3 3 .3 % ) ,复发 1例。单纯圈套结扎16例 ,漏气 3例 ( 18.8% )。钛夹钳夹 5例 ,无漏气。结论　对原发性气胸肺大泡单纯圈套结扎即可 ,对继发性气胸胸膜腔给予致炎物质喷洒 ,有利防止术后漏气及复发。     

Diagnostic studies in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical-radiological diagnosis. Clinical diagnosis comprises severe hypoxemia assessed by arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of less than 200 and bilateral infiltrate on a chest radiograph in the absence of left atrial hypertension. The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis vary based on the underlying etiology for ARDS. Except for presence of bilateral infiltrate on chest radiograph and severe hypoxemia on arterial blood gas, most diagnostic studies are used to exclude mimics of ARDS and potentially modify treatment. Computerized tomography of the chest is helpful in understanding the extent of the disease and is more sensitive in identifying pneumomediastinum and pneumothoraces seen frequently in patients with ARDS, which can be missed on a chest radiograph, especially if they are small in size. Measurements of alveolar dead space ventilation fraction can be helpful in determining the prognosis in individuals with ARDS. Bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy, and open lung biopsies can be safely performed in patients with ARDS. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with ARDS shows neutrophil predominance with increased edema fluid to serum protein ratio. Diffuse alveolar damage, a pathognomic of ARDS, is seen on histopathology on transbronchial lung biopsy or open lung biopsy. Most common complications of these procedures include transient hypoxemia, respiratory acidosis, and pneumothorax with occasional persistent air leak. The potential risk of diagnostic studies should be balanced against the possible foreseeable benefits of the diagnostic studies.     

Treatment of re-expansion edema ('unilateral ARDS") after rapid pneumothorax drainage

A rare complication after delayed re-expansion of pneumothorax is reported. A polytraumatized patient with stable vital functions was admitted to our ICU immediately after surgery. Later, oxygenation worsened treated by a rise in FiO2. Concomitant tachycardia was thought to be due to increasing body temperature. On day 3 of treatment in the ICU further deterioration in gas exchange (and in hemodynamics, with complete collapse of the left lung) was diagnosed on X-ray examination. Retrospectively, the development of this condition could be traced on the X-ray films taken during the previous 3 days. Thoracic drainage and suction resulted in complete re-expansion of the lung. After re-expansion worsening of gas exchange and unilateral ARDS-like configurations were observed on chest X-ray. Reversal of the I:E ration and a rise in PEEP improved gas exchange and the X-ray appearance immediately. In the next few days the intensity of the respiratory treatment could be reduced, and after a short period of CPAP the patient was discharged from the ICU. Three mechanisms for development of this "unilateral ARDS" are discussed: loss and suppressed regeneration of surfactant in prolonged atelectic alveolar compartments; increased capillary fluid escape due to suction; and increased complement activation and reduced degradation of edematogenic bradykinin in hypoxic alveolar compartments. Possible clinical implications for the treatment of longer duration pneumothorax are: fractionated drainage and respirator settings, reopening collapsed alveoli in an inhomogeneously diseased lung such as IRV.     

Videothoracoscopic bleb excision and pleural abrasion for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: long-term results

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficiency of videothoracoscopic bleb excision and pleural abrasion for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: From July 1991 to December 1997, 182 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were treated by a single technique at our institution. Seven patients had single-stage bilateral procedures and 11 other patients had staged bilateral procedures. Indications for operation were first episode with prolonged air leak, incomplete lung reexpansion, or job restrictions (n = 59), first ipsilateral recurrence (n = 57), second or third ipsilateral recurrence (n = 34), contralateral recurrence (n = 25), synchronous bilateral pneumothorax (n = 3), hemopneumothorax (n = 3), and tension pneumothorax (n = 1). All patient data were reviewed retrospectively, and 167 patients were available for late follow-up (92%). RESULTS: Mean operative time was 57 +/- 19 minutes. Conversion to thoracotomy was required in 1 patient (0.6%). Mean duration of pleural drainage was 5.8 +/- 1.2 days (range, 4 to 26 days), and mean postoperative stay was 7.7 +/- 1.6 days (range, 6 to 31 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 50 patients (27.4%), the most frequent being prolonged air leak (14.8%), and in-hospital mortality was 0%. After a mean follow-up of 93 +/- 22 months (range, 57 to 134 months; median, 84 months), five ipsilateral recurrences were noted (3%). Three recurrences occurred within 12 months of videothoracoscopy and required reoperation. Two patients had partial pneumothorax recurrence at 39 and 58 months, and were treated conservatively with chest tube insertion and tale slurry. After 1 year, 10.7% of patients complained of chronic chest pain or discomfort, although none was taking pain medication after 3 months. Most patients (89.8%) were satisfied or very satisfied of their operation. All patients had returned to sport activities within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Videothoracoscopic bullectomy and pleural abrasion is a reliable and safe method to treat primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Long-term recurrences occur with an acceptable rate that compares with results after limited thoracotomy. Chronic chest pain or discomfort is unpredictable and may represent a problem in a few patients.