Effectiveness of Ambulatory Tru-Close Thoracic Vent for the Outpatient Management of Pneumothorax: A Prospective Pilot Study

Low diffusion capacity of the lung predicts pneumothorax and chest drainage after CT-guided lung biopsy

OBJECTIVES

Complications after CT-guided lung biopsy is a burden both for the individual patient and for the overall healthcare. Pneumothorax is the most common complication. This study determined the association between lung function tests and pneumothorax and chest drainage following CT-guided lung biopsy in consecutive patients in a large university hospital.

RESULTS

We prospectively registered 875 biopsy procedures from 786 patients in one institution from January 27th 2012 to March 1st 2017 and recorded complications including pneumothorax with or without chest drainage. Lung function data from 637 patients undergoing 710 of the procedures were available. The association of lung function measures with pneumothorax with or without chest drainage was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 4.70 mmol/min/kPa was associated with increased occurrence of pneumothorax and chest drainage after CT guided lung biopsy. We found no association between FEV₁, RV and occurrence of pneumothorax and chest drainage. We found low DLCO to be a risk factor of pneumothorax and chest drainage after CT-guided lung biopsy. This should be taken into account in planning and performing the procedure.

Ambulant treatment with a digital chest tube for prolonged air leak is safe and effective

Background

Outpatient or ambulatory treatment for prolonged air leak (PAL) has been reported previously in various studies. Evidence regarding efficiency and safety is nevertheless poor. This report describes the experience of 10 years ambulatory care with a digital chest drain system monitored by specialized nurses in our centre. The aim of the study is to give further insights in the effectiveness and safety of this treatment.

Methods

Retrospective data of 10 years ambulatory care for PAL were examined. One hundred and forty patients with PAL after pneumothorax or pulmonary surgery were included.

Results

A total of 140 patients with PAL were included. Treatment was successful in 112 patients (80.0%). Hospital readmission was necessary in 33 patients (23.6%) and 28 (20.0%) of them received additional treatment. Additional treatment consisted of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in 19 patients (13.6%), new chest tube placement in 8 patients (5.7%) and pleurodesis (with talc slurry) in 1 patient (0.7%). Minor complications occurred in 10 patients (7.1%), major complications requiring readmission occurred in 14 patients (10.0%).

Conclusions

Ambulatory treatment of PAL with a digital monitoring device resulted in a high success rate with a limited complication rate.

Age of Data in Contemporary Research Articles Published in Representative General Radiology Journals

Objective

To analyze and compare the age of data in contemporary research articles published in representative general radiology journals.

Materials and Methods

We searched for articles reporting original research studies analyzing patient data that were published in the print issues of the Korean Journal of Radiology (KJR), European Radiology (ER), and Radiology in 2017. Eligible articles were reviewed to extract data collection period (time from first patient recruitment to last patient follow-up) and age of data (time between data collection end and publication). The journals were compared in terms of the proportion of articles reporting the data collection period to the level of calendar month and regarding the age of data.

Results

There were 50, 492, and 254 eligible articles in KJR, ER, and Radiology, respectively. Of these, 44 (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.8-94.8%), 359 (73%; 95% CI: 68.9-76.7%), and 211 (83.1%; 95% CI: 78-87.2%) articles, respectively, provided enough details of data collection period, revealing a significant difference between ER and Radiology (p = 0.002). The age of data was significantly greater in KJR (median age: 826 days; range: 299-2843 days) than in ER (median age: 570 days; range: 56-4742 days; p < 0.001) and Radiology (median age: 618; range: 75-4271 days; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Korean Journal of Radiology did not fall behind ER or Radiology in reporting of data collection period, but showed a significantly greater age of data than ER and Radiology, suggesting that KJR should take measures to improve the timeliness of its data.

Use of pigtail catheter and urosac: Numero uno for ambulatory chest drainage!

Background

Intercostal chest drainage is required for varied lung diseases with the pleural involvement. While the conventional method of intercostal drainage (ICD) insertion with the bulky underwater drain (UWD) was the gold standard for management, it had numerous disadvantages. It was time and again challenged with better ambulatory methods, although the documentation and continued use of the same are rare in practice. We studied the efficacy of ambulatory chest drainage (ACD) with pigtail and urosac against the conventional drainage methods (ICD-UWD) at a tertiary care center.

Materials and Methods

This prospective, observational study included the patients requiring chest drainage grouping them as per the intervention they underwent, i.e., (1) Pigtail-Urosac (ACD group) and (2) ICD-UWD (Non-ACD group). The clinical data were recorded and analyzed for the difference in the hospital stay, the total duration of drainage, successful outcome, residual disease, and pain in both groups using unpaired t-test and Chi-square test.

Results

Of the 85 patients included in the study; 45 had pigtail-urosac and 40 had ICD-UWD, consisting of 34 pleural effusions and 51 pneumothoraces. The ACD and non-ACD groups were similar in etiology. Of the 85 patients, 50 had complete lung expansion, 18 pleural thickening, 15 loculated residual disease, and two pleurocutaneous fistulae. In the ACD group, the hospital stay was less as compared to the non-ACD group, i.e., 4.06 (4.42) versus 19.68 (31.39) days (P = 0.0008). The duration of chest drainage showed a similar trend, i.e., 19.29 (66.91) versus 52.18 (46.38) days (P = 0.006). Pain (P < 0.0001) recorded was significantly less with better expansion (P < 0.0001), less pleural thickening (P = 0.0067), and residual disease (P = 0.0087) in the ACD group.

Conclusion

The use of pigtail-urosac is a safe, effective, and preferred method for ACD.