title: Management of pneumothorax in emergency medicine departments: multicenter trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumothorax is common and life-threatening clinical condition which may require emergency treatment in Emergency Medicine Departments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to reveal the epidemiological analysis of the patients admitted to the Emergency Department with pneumothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control and multi-center study was conducted in the patients treated with the diagnosis of pneumothorax between 01.01.2010-31.12.2010. Patient data were collected from hospital automation system. According to the etiology of the pneumothorax, study groups were arranged like spontaneous pneumothorax and traumatic pneumothorax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  82.2% (n = 106) of patients were male and 17.8% (n = 23) of patients were female and mean age were 31.3 ± 20,2 (Minimum: 1, Maximum: 87). 68.2% (n = 88) of patients were spontaneous pneumothorax (61.36%, n=79 were primary spontaneous pneumothorax) and 31.8% (n = 41) of patients were traumatic pneumothorax (21.95% were iatrogenic pneumothorax). Main complaint is shortness of breath (52.3%, n=67) and 38% (n=49) of patients were smokers. Posteroanterior (PA) Chest X-Ray has been enough for 64.3% (n = 83) of the patients' diagnosis. Tube thoracostomy is applied to 84.5% (n = 109) of patients and surgery is applied to 9.3% (n = 12) of patients and 6.2% (n = 8) of patients were discharged with conservative treatment. Spontaneous pneumothorax showed statistically significant high recurrence compared with traumatic pneumothorax (P = 0.007). 4.65% of (n = 6) patients died. The average age of those who died (9.3 ± 19.9), statistically were significantly lower the mean age of living patients (32.4 ± 19.7) (t test, P = 0,006). 83.33% of the patients who died were neonatals and in the 0-1 years age group, and five of these patients were secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, and one of these patients were iatrogenic pneumothorax due to mechanical ventilation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumothorax in adults can be treated by tube thoracostomy or surgically. Despite treatment, mortality of secondary and iatrogenic pneumothorax in newborns and 0-1 years age group is high.
authors.affiliation: Taksim Ilk Yardim Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ince
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dogac Niyazi
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ozucelik
authors.affiliation: Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Akkan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nizam
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Topal
keywords: Emergency Medicine; Pneumothorax; Thoracostomy