[Pleural talcage in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (author's transl)]

Abstract

The insufflation of iodinised (1%) sterile talc in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax is presented as a safe and valuable method of treatment. A recidive pneumothorax occurs in 6.6% of the patients. This form of treatment should only be used in the forms of pneumothorax without bullous degeneration, which should be treated surgically. Pleural talcage can be performed under local anesthesia, without harmful repercussion on the patient or on the VC, FEV1, and diffusion capacity. In our experience, thoracoscopy provides the inestimable and necessary information for choosing the best way of treatment in patients with a spontaneous pneumothorax.