Treatmentoptions for spontaneous pneumothorax

Background: Pneumothorax is air in pleural cavity.Spontaneous Pneumothorax may be primary or secondary. The aim of the study is to present our experience in management, therapy, options of treatment of Spontaneousprimary and secondary Pneumothorax. Methods: In a 30 year period a retrospective study took place. During the years1993 to 2024 (30 years) 1189 patients (978 male and 211female), treated for spontaneous (primary or secondary) pneumothorax in the department of Thoracic Surgery of the General Hospital of Nicaea-Piraeus. Results: In a 30 year period 1189 patients, 978 (82,253%) male and 211 (17,746%) female, age 17 – 87 years old mean age 38 years old.Only 155 patients of 1189 (12,699 %) received conservative treatment (oxygen administration, analgesic monitoring), while 1038 (87,300 %) were treated with chest drain insertion. The pneumothorax was located on the right in 723 patients (60,807%), on the left in 440 (37,005%), and on both sides in 16 (1,345 %).Operation underwent 278(23,380%) out of 1189 patients.The first five years of the study the operation rate was 10% but the operation rate the last five years of the study was 70%.The average patients age was 38 years old (max 87, min 17) while the average hospitalisation stay was 7.1 days (max 21, min 1).The elderly patients for spontaneous secondary pneumothorax had a longer stay in the hospital compared to younger population of the study. Conclusion: Conservative treatment observation O2 administration required 12,699% of the study population. The majority 87,300 % required chest drain insertion. Pleurodesis with blood is very useful for spontaneous pneumothorax treatment. Also its very helpful for small air leaks post thoracic surgery like lobectomies, decortication.Considered as alternative solution. Surgery required one fourth of the study population. Operation underwent 278(23,380%) out of 1189 patients).The elderly patients for spontaneous (secondary) pneumothorax had a longer stay in the hospital compare to younger population (primary) of the study.The first five years of the study the operation rate was 10% but the operation rate the last five years of the study was 70%.