Radiology, Vol 193, 393-395, Copyright © 1994 by Radiological Society of North America
Treatment of postbiopsy pneumothorax with a self-contained pneumothorax treatment device
R O Laoide, LJ Fundell, E vanSonnenberg, H D'Agostino, SB Oglevie and H Rosenkrantz
Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego Medical Center 92103.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of a self-contained pneumothorax
treatment device, in which a catheter and a one-way valve compose a single
unit, in cases of postbiopsy pneumothorax. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Twenty-one patients underwent placement of the device to drain a postbiopsy
pneumothorax. Treatment was considered successful when no therapy other
than the device was needed. RESULTS: Treatment was successful in 16 (76%)
of the 21 patients. Causes of treatment failure were dislodgment of the
device (n = 3), malfunction of the device (n = 1), and a persistent air
leak that led to pneumothorax recurrence after removal of the device (n =
1). Eight patients (38%) experienced problems after insertion of the
device: The device dislodged in seven patients and malfunctioned in one
patient. These problems led to treatment failure in four patients (see
above). In the remaining four, further treatment after device dislodgment
was not required. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the self-contained
pneumothorax treatment device shows promise. Modifications to the device
may alleviate technical problems and insertion difficulties.
