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Aspiration Test Predicts Need for Operation in Pediatric Spontaneous...
Chapter 1 of 1 · Evidence & Research
Aspiration protocol
Aspiration Protocol for Spontaneous Pneumothorax Management
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Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
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What the experts said
The Journal of Pediatric Surgery published a study from the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium on optimal management of spontaneous pneumothorax
The study was a prospective trial where patients were initially treated with simple air aspiration from the pleural space with a pigtail catheter in the emergency department
After aspiration, patients underwent 6 hours of observation
If the pneumothorax did not recur after observation, patients were sent home
If the pneumothorax recurred after aspiration, patients were admitted to the hospital
83% of patients who failed the aspiration eventually required a VATS procedure
The recurrence rate of those who were sent home after successful aspiration was 44%
There were no episodes of tension pneumothorax among patients sent home after successful aspiration
The authors recommend performing the aspiration protocol and sending all patients that fail straight to the operating room since the need for OR is so high in these patients