Iatrogenic Pneumothorax: Analysis of 62 Cases

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, iatrogenic pneumothorax reasons developing in the cases were studied and treatment methods were compared. Material and Methods: From January 1995 to October 2007, we treated 523 patients with pneumothorax. Sixty-two of them were found to have iatrogenic pneumothorax. Patients' age, gender, primary diagnoses, etiology of iatrogenic pneumothorax, time of drainage and treatment results were analyzed. Results: Mean age of the 62 patients (28 women, 34 men) was 45 +/- 2,4 (range: 5-78 years). Treatment choices for these cases were as follows, observation with nasal oxygen for 9, simple aspiration for 3, chest tube application for 45, surgery for 5 patients. Seven patients (11.29 %) died because of primary pathologies. Conclusion: It is often encountered with iatrogenic pneumothorax cases in paralel to the increase in the diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures. In this study, clinical features, treatments and treatment results of the cases with iatrogenic pneumothorax were discussed with the literature. It was concluded that this important complication should not be ruled out and diagnosed and treated in a short time. It was also concluded that it is necessary to attach importance to the educational processes of the physicians who will apply these procedures.