Pleurodesis for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The role of chemical pleurodesis in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax remains unclear. According to current practice guidelines, chemical pleurodesis is reserved for patients who are unable or unwilling to have surgery. Some recent studies showed that intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis could decrease the rate of pneumothorax recurrence, when used either as the initial treatment for simple pneumothorax after successful aspiration and drainage or as an adjuvant treatment for complicated or recurrent pneumothorax following thoracoscopic surgery. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current available evidence on intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

RECENT FINDINGS

In a recently published prospective, randomized controlled trial, additional minocycline pleurodesis following simple aspiration and drainage was a well tolerated and more effective initial treatment for a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax than simple aspiration and drainage alone. Other prospective, randomized controlled trials showed that additional minocycline pleurodesis after thoracoscopic treatment was a well tolerated and convenient procedure which can reduce the rate of ipsilateral recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

SUMMARY

Intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis can be considered an adjunct to standard treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, after either simple aspiration and drainage or after thoracoscopic surgery.

Spontaneous pneumothorax; a multicentre retrospective analysis of emergency treatment, complications and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous pneumothorax can be managed initially by observation, aspiration or chest drain insertion.

AIMS

To determine the clinical features of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), interventions, outcomes and potential risk factors for poor outcomes after treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review from ED of three major referral and two general hospitals in Australia of presentations with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). Main outcomes were prolonged air leak (>5 days) and pneumothorax recurrence within 1 year.

RESULTS

We identified 225 people with PSP and 98 with SSP. There were no clinical tension pneumothoraces with hypotension. Hypoxaemia (haemoglobin oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry ≤92%) occurred only in SSP and in older patients (age >50 years) with PSP. Drainage was performed in 150 (67%) PSP and 82 (84%) SSP. Prolonged air leak occurred in 16% (95% confidence interval 10-23%) of PSP and 31% (21-42%) of SSP. Independent risk factors for prolonged drainage were non-asthma SSP and pneumothorax size >50%. Complications were recorded in 11% (7.5-16%) of those having drains inserted. Recurrences occurred in 5/91 (5%, 1.8-12%) of those treated without drainage versus 40/232 (17%, 13-23%) of those treated by drainage, of which half occurred in the first month after drainage.

CONCLUSION

Pneumothorax drainage is associated with substantial morbidity including prolonged air leak. As PSP appears to be well tolerated in younger people even with large pneumothoraces, conservative treatment in this subgroup may be a viable option to improve patient outcomes, but this needs to be confirmed in a clinical trial.