Abstract
In Germany, 10,000 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax are treated inpatient every year.
The German Society for Thoracic Surgery (DGT), in co-operation with the German Society
for Pulmonology (DGP), the German Radiological Society (DRG) and the German Society
of Internal Medicine (DGIM) has developed an S3 guideline on spontaneous pneumothorax
and postinterventional pneumothorax moderated by the German Association of Scientific
Medical Societies (AWMF).
Method Based on the source guideline of the British Thoracic Society (BTS2010) for spontaneous
pneumothorax, a literature search on spontaneous pneumothorax was carried out from
2008 onwards, for post-interventional pneumothorax from 1960 onwards. Evidence levels
according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (2011) were assigned to
the relevant studies found. Recommendations according to GRADE (A: “we recommend”/“we
do not recommend”, B: “we suggest”/“we do not suggest”) were determined in three consensus
conferences by the nominal group process.
Results The algorithms for primary and secondary pneumothorax differ in the indication for
CT scan as well as in the indication for chest drainage application and video-assisted
thoracic surgery (VATS). Indication for surgery is recommended individually taking
into account the risk of recurrence, life circumstances, patient preferences and procedure
risks. For some forms of secondary pneumothorax, a reserved indication for surgery
is recommended. Therapy of postinterventional spontaneous pneumothorax is similar
to that of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
Discussion The recommendations of the S3 Guideline provide assistance in managing spontaneous
pneumothorax and post-interventional pneumothorax. Whether this will affect existing
deviant diagnostic and therapeutic measures will be demonstrated by future epidemiological
studies.
Key words
spontaneous pneumothorax - pneumothorax - primary spontaneous pneumothorax - secondary
spontaneous pneumothorax - postinterventional pneumothorax - chest tube - VATS