Is Outpatient Treatment for Spontaneous Pneumothorax Safe?

Traditionally, spontaneous pneumothorax is treated based on signs and symptoms and either observed or managed with a chest tube. Studies show outpatient management may be beneficial; however, the optimal management remains unclear due to a lack of quality data.

This randomized, controlled open-label study of 236 patients (aged 16 to 55 years) with symptomatic spontaneous pneumothorax at 24 U.K. hospitals compared length of hospitalization and safety between outpatient management using an ambulatory device (Pleural Vent, Rocket Medical) and inpatient management (aspiration, chest tube placement, or both).

The ambulatory group had significantly shorter hospitalization at 30 days (median difference, 2 days) and fewer pleural procedures (21% vs. …