[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax: survey among Dutch pneumonologists].

OBJECTIVE

To gain insight into the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in the Netherlands.

DESIGN

Questionnaire.

SETTING

Nationwide in the Netherlands.

METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to all 286 practising pulmonologists in the Netherlands to inquire about the mode of treatment used for spontaneous pneumothorax. Answers were sorted by size of practice. University hospital, non-university hospitals qualified for residency training and offices with at least 4 pulmonologists were classified as large practices. Other practices were classified as small.

RESULTS

89% of all pulmonologists responded. In small practices, a first spontaneous pneumothorax was treated by chest tube drainage; in large practices, thoracoscopy was usually performed. In recurrent pneumothorax, thoracoscopy was the first choice in both small and large practices. The role of interventional thoracoscopy and surgery was not established.

CONCLUSION

Worldwide, including in the Netherlands, there is no consensus about the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Randomised studies with cost-effect analysis are necessary.