Simple Aspiration for First-Episode Primary and Complete Pneumothorax

Tran, Betty MD, MSc

Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago

Critical Care Alert 31(6):p 46-47, September 2023.

SYNOPSIS: The investigators found a higher rate of failure with simple aspiration as a first-line intervention for primary spontaneous pneumothorax compared to chest tube drainage, but it was better tolerated with fewer adverse events.

SOURCE: Marx T, Joly LM, Parmentier AL, et al. Simple aspiration versus drainage for complete pneumothorax. A randomized noninferiority trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2023;207:1475-1485.