Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax Interactive Web Site

Consensus Statements

Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Interactive Web Site

Chest Tube Size Selection

Key point: Size is based on airleak risks.

Clinically stable patient with a large PSP

<14F (good consensus) or
16F–22F (good consensus)

Either catheter should be selected for placement.

Clinically unstable patient with a large PSP

<14F (good consensus) or
16F–22F (good consensus)
24F–28F (good consensus)

A 24F–28F chest tube may be used if the patient is anticipated to have a bronchopleural fistula with a large airleak or requires positive pressure ventilation (good consensus).

Primary Data

Table 14—Selection of Chest Tube Size Based on Airleak Risk

Other Information

Would you like information regarding initial chest tube management once placed?

Initial Chest Tube Management

Would you like information regarding chest tube removal?

Chest Tube Removal

Does your patient develop a persistent airleak after drainage tube placement and would you like information regarding airleak management?

Airleak Management

Would you like information regarding when to provide recurrence prevention and what type of recurrence prevention to provide?

Recurrence Prevention Information

Would you like information regarding the role of computed tomography in the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax?

Computed Tomography