Tube Thoracostomy: Is an Emergency Physician Adequate for the Job?

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a collection of air in the pleural space without any traumatic or iatrogenic factors. If there is no identified underlying lung disease and the lung structure is normal, the condition is defined as primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP); if an underlying lung disease such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or tuberculosis is present, then the condition is called secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) (1). Primary spontaneous pneumothorax typically occurs in young, asthenic adults. Males and smokers are at higher risk. The most common cause for SSP is COPD (2). These patients may have a more serious clinical course based on the pre-existing impaired lung function. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with spontaneous pneumothorax who were admitted to our center and to emphasize that effective treatment can be performed in emergency departments by emergency physicians.