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A case report of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in acute exacerbation of COPD managed with improvised chest tube drain.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

and importance: We reported a case of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) in a 70-years-old male with acute exacerbation of COPD (AE COPD) managed with improvised chest tube drain (ICD).

Case presentation

He presented with sudden onset breathlessness and oxygen saturation of 78%. With prolonged expiration on auscultation, he was treated as AE COPD with oxygen therapy, nebulization with albuterol/ipratropium, and injectable antibiotics and steroids. The patient was not improving with treatment on third day, and non-critical respiratory distress continued. Considering the alternative diagnosis, the chest X-ray was done which revealed right sided spontaneous pneumothorax and COPD. Due to his reluctancy to go to higher center for chest tube insertion during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we inserted ICD (intravenous set put in saline bottle) at our primary care. Following drainage, breathlessness improved and saturation increased. Then inpatient symptomatic treatment for COPD was continued for three more days. He was discharged on inhalers after fifth day and asked for follow up after 10 days. He came after 1 month and on repeat chest X-ray, his right sided pneumothorax resolved completely and COPD was in control with inhaled medications. There was no recurrence of pneumothorax in five months follow up.

Clinical discussion

ICD is a safe, and an alternative option in resource limited setting. However, the guidelines recommend chest tube insertion as appropriate treatment.

Conclusion

This would remind the physicians to anticipate the alternative possibility, and to re-examine those with AE COPD who are not improving as expected with oxygen and nebulization therapy.

SUBMITTER: Yadav GK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9289406 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Importance:Treatment options for a symptomatic pneumothorax in newborns include needle aspiration (NA) and chest drain (CD) insertion. There is little consensus as to the preferred treatment, reflecting a lack of evidence from clinical trials. Objective:To investigate whether treating pneumothoraces diagnosed on chest radiography (CR) in newborns receiving respiratory support with NA results in fewer infants having CDs inserted within 6 hours of diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants:This randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 7, 2013, to December 21, 2016. The setting was 5 tertiary European neonatal intensive care units. Infants receiving respiratory support (endotracheal ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, or supplemental oxygen >40%) who had a pneumothorax on CR that clinicians deemed needed treatment were eligible for inclusion. Interventions:Infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to drainage using NA or CD insertion, stratified by center and gestation at birth (<32 vs ?32 weeks). Caregivers were not masked to group assignment. For NA, a needle was inserted between the ribs to aspirate air and was removed once air was no longer aspirated. A CD was inserted if clinicians deemed that the response was inadequate. For CD insertion, a drain was inserted between the ribs and was left in situ. Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was whether a CD was inserted on the side of the pneumothorax within 6 hours of diagnosis. Results:A total of 76 infants were randomly assigned, and 6 (4 assigned to NA and 2 to CD) were excluded because they met exclusion criteria at enrollment. Of the 70 remaining infants, 33 (16 male [48%]) were assigned to NA and 37 (22 male [59%]) to CD insertion. Their median (interquartile range [IQR]) gestational age was 31 (27-38) vs 31 (27-35) weeks, and their median (IQR) birth weight was 1385 (1110-3365) vs 1690 (1060-2025) g, respectively. Fewer infants assigned to NA had a CD inserted within 6 hours (55% [18 of 33] vs 100% [37 of 37]; relative risk, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.75) and during hospitalization (70% [23 of 33] vs 100% [37 of 37]; relative risk, 0.70, 95% CI, 0.56-0.87). Conclusions and Relevance:Needle aspiration reduced the rate of CD insertion in symptomatic newborns with pneumothorax on CR. It should be used as the initial method of draining radiologically confirmed pneumothorax in symptomatic infants. Trial Registration:isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN65161530.

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