Treatment of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax Using a Commercialized 8-French Catheter (Pleuracan(R)) / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

Background: This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the 8-French (Fr) catheter (Pleuracan(R)) for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 59 patients (72 cases) underwent a closed thoracostomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. We divided these patients into two groups group T (large bore (>20 Fr) chest tube group) and group P (Pleuracan(R) group). RESULT: Initially, the Pleuracan(R) catheters were inserted in 41 cases. There were four catheter malfunctions (9.8%); three cases had a subsequent closed thoracostomy with a large bore chest tube. Ultimately, there were 34 cases in group T and 38 cases in group P. There were no significant differences in indwelling catheter time (T 2.1+/-1.5 days, P 2.1+/-1.3 days), hospital stay (T 6.4+/-5.4 days, P 5.2+/-2.9 days) and complications (T 3%, P 0%) between the two groups. The percentage of cases that needed intravenous analgesics in group P was 60% (23/38); this was significantly lower than the number for group T (90%, 31/34) (p=0.003). In a subgroup of patients that did not undergo bullectomy (T 17 cases, P 19 cases), there were no significant differences in the duration of air leakage (T 0.5+/-0.7 days, P 0.5+/-1.2 days) and in the percentage of patients with complete lung re-expansion (T 94%, P 84%) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Application of the Pleuracan(R) catheter for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax was as effective as the large bore chest tube.