title: [The management of spontaneous pneumothorax].
abstract: The optimum management of spontaneous pneumothorax (SPTX) includes medical and surgical approaches but remains somewhat controversial due to inconclusive data background both in the treatment of the acute episode and preventive strategies. Current consensus recommendations suggest, that small and asymptomatic pneumothoraces can be managed conservatively by observation. Large and symptomatic pneumothoraces will respond to simple aspiration or small size catheter (< 16 F) insertion in about (2)/ (3) of cases. Otherwise, and in secondary SPTX, particularly in the elderly patient, large size (> 20 F) chest drainage, optimally combined with thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy), is the treatment of choice allowing success rates up to 96 %. Preventive strategies are indicated after the first recurrence and when predisposing pleuropulmonary lesions as in secondary SPTX are evident. With efficacy as a primary endpoint, currently available data do not provide clear evidence-based preference criteria between medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis and surgical strategies (usually VATS-based partial pleurectomy +/- parenchymal resection). Therefore selection of the appropriate procedure remains influenced by expert opinion. However simple talc poudrage under medical thoracoscopy has been shown to be highly effective, safe and cheap at a cost level virtually not exceeding that of large size chest drainage.
authors.affiliation: Walliser Klinik für Lungenkrankheiten, Crans-Montana/Schweiz.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschopp
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noppen
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic