[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax: survey among Dutch pneumonologists]

Abstract

Objective: To gain insight into the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in the Netherlands.

Design: Questionnaire.

Setting: Nationwide in the Netherlands.

Method: A questionnaire was sent to all 286 practising pulmonologists in the Netherlands to inquire about the mode of treatment used for spontaneous pneumothorax. Answers were sorted by size of practice. University hospital, non-university hospitals qualified for residency training and offices with at least 4 pulmonologists were classified as large practices. Other practices were classified as small.

Results: 89% of all pulmonologists responded. In small practices, a first spontaneous pneumothorax was treated by chest tube drainage; in large practices, thoracoscopy was usually performed. In recurrent pneumothorax, thoracoscopy was the first choice in both small and large practices. The role of interventional thoracoscopy and surgery was not established.

Conclusion: Worldwide, including in the Netherlands, there is no consensus about the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Randomised studies with cost-effect analysis are necessary.