Update: Is Needle Aspiration Better Than Chest Tube Placement for the Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax?

A total of 6 randomized controlled trials (435 patients) met inclusion criteria. Chest tube (12 to 20 French) placement had a higher immediate success rate but a longer hospital length of stay. There was no difference in 1-year success rate, hospitalization rate, or patient satisfaction. Needle aspiration had fewer adverse events. Meta-analyses were conducted only for immediate success rate and hospital length of stay (Table) because there was low or very low quality of evidence for all other outcomes.

https://ift.tt/2pSYLWc