Simple aspiration and drainage and intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis versus simple aspiration and drainage for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: an open-label, parallel-group, prospective, randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Simple aspiration and drainage is a standard initial treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax, but the rate of pneumothorax recurrence is substantial. We investigated whether additional minocycline pleurodesis after simple aspiration and drainage reduces the rate of recurrence. METHODS: In our open-label, parallel-group, prospective, randomised, controlled trial at two hospitals in Taiwan, patients were aged 15-40 years and had a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax with a rim of air greater than 2 cm on chest radiographs, complete lung expansion without air leakage after pigtail catheter drainage, adequate haematological function, and normal renal and hepatic function. After simple aspiration and drainage via a pigtail catheter, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 300 mg of minocycline pleurodesis or no further treatment (control group). Randomisation was by computer-generated random numbers in sealed envelopes. Our primary endpoint was rate of pneumothorax recurrence at 1 year. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00418392). FINDINGS: Between Dec 31, 2006, and June 30, 2012, 214 patients were randomly assigned-106 to the minocycline group and 108 to the control group (intention-to-treat population). Treatment was unsuccessful within 7 days of randomisation in 14 patients in the minocycline group and 20 patients in the control group. At 1 year, pneumothoraces had recurred in 31 of 106 (29·2%) patients in the minocycline group compared with 53 of 108 (49·1%) in the control group (p=0·003). We noted no procedure-related complications in either group. INTERPRETATION: Simple aspiration and drainage followed by minocycline pleurodesis is a safe and more effective treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax than is simple aspiration and drainage only. Minocycline pleurodesis should be an adjunct to standard treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. FUNDING: Department of Health and National Science Council, Taiwan.

Intrapleural minocycline following simple aspiration for initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: The optimal initial management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) remains controversial. This study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intrapleural minocycline following aspiration for initial treatment of PSP. METHODS: Between January 2004 and November 2006, 64 patients with a first episode of PSP were successfully treated by simple aspiration using pigtail or intravenous needle catheter. From December 2005, 31 of the patients also received 300mg of minocycline hydrochloride post lung expansion, instilled through the catheter into the pleural space (minocycline group). The control group consisted of the first 33 patients of the series who had successfully undergone simple aspiration alone between January 2004 and December 2005. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic data. Patients in the minocycline group had higher doses of meperidine injection. The group hospitalization rates and mean hospital stays were comparable. After a mean follow-up of 13 months (range 3-26), recurrence was noted in 4 of the minocycline group and 11 of the control group (12.9% versus 33.3%, p=0.045). Subsequent thoracoscopic surgery for the recurrent patients revealed that minocycline induced scant loose adhesions which did not significantly affect operation procedures. The long-term pulmonary function and rates of residual pain for the two groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Although associated with immediate chest pain, intrapleural minocycline following simple aspiration is a simple, safe and convenient initial treatment for PSP that may reduce the rates of ipsilateral recurrence.

Salvage for unsuccessful aspiration of primary pneumothorax: thoracoscopic surgery or chest tube drainage?

BACKGROUND: Simple aspiration is recommended as first-line treatment for all primary spontaneous pneumothoraces requiring intervention. However, the optimal salvage treatment remains unclear when simple aspiration is unsuccessful for controlling symptoms. In this study, the safety, efficacy, and estimated costs of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and chest tube drainage (CTD) were compared. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2007, 164 patients with a first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax were managed by simple aspiration. Among them, 52 patients underwent subsequent VATS (30 patients) or CTD (22 patients) due to unsuccessful aspiration. The demographic data and treatment outcomes of the two groups were collected through retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Postoperative analgesics use did not differ between groups. Complications developed in 2 of the VATS group (6.7%) and 6 of the CTD group (27.3%), with mean hospital stays of 4.8 and 6.1 days, respectively (p = 0.034). Patients in the VATS group had lower rates of overall failure, although the rates of immediate failure were not significantly different. After a mean follow-up of 16 months, recurrent ipsilateral pneumothorax was noted in 1 VATS patient and 5 CTD individuals (p = 0.038). The estimated total costs per patient were $1,273 in the VATS group and $865 in the CTD group. CONCLUSIONS: Although associated with higher costs, VATS rather than CTD is the preferred salvage treatment for unsuccessful aspiration of the first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, because of shorter hospital stay and lower rates of overall failure and recurrence.