Needle aspiration is safe and effective for treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Aguinagalde Valiente B, Zabaleta Jiménez J, Busca Ostolaza P, Redin Espinal JA, Emparanza Knorr JI, Izquierdo Elena JM

Objective: Our main aim was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of needle aspiration

for treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods: Retrospective study of data collected prospectively for patients who came to

the emergency department with primary spontaneous pneumothorax over a 10-year

period. We compared patients who underwent needle aspiration to those who did not.

Patients who were hospitalized were compared to those managed as outpatients in

terms of recurrences, readmissions, need for surgery, and complications. Variables that

might be related to the success of the procedure were explored.

Results: Patients who underwent needle aspiration were similar to those who did not

with respect to sex, side affected, and pneumothorax size (volume), and smoking

status. Needle aspiration seems to be a protective factor against hospitalization (odds

ratio, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.62-0.78). No significant between-group differences were detected

with respect to recurrence, readmission, or need for surgery. None of the descriptive

variables were related to success or failure of needle aspiration. The incidence of

complications of needle aspiration was 2.4%

Conclusions: Needle aspiration is a safe, effective first-line treatment for primary

spontaneous pneumothorax and does not increase risk for readmission or recurrence.

Aguinagalde Valiente B, Busca Ostolaza P, Emparanza Knörr JI, Izquierdo Elena JM, Redin Espinal JA, Zabaleta Jiménez J