Pneumothorax; Incidence and Outcomes of Pneumothorax in Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Methods: Included analysis of 300 patients. Patients of all age groups and gender were included in this analysis. We reviewed their clinical records regarding age, gender, incidence and type of pneumothorax, pneumothorax episodes and its causes. Diagnosis of pneumothorax was based on clinical examination and plain chest X-rays of patients. Results: Pneumothorax occurred only in 26 (8.7%) patients. Out of these 26 patients, there were 3 (1.0%) patients in whom spontaneous pneumothorax occurred and in remaining 23 (7.7%) patients pneumothorax was iatrogenic in nature. There was significantly higher rate of mortality in patients who developed pneumothorax 38.46%versus 3.2% in patients without pneumothorax (p-value <0.001). Duration of ICU stay was also significantly prolonged in pneumothorax patients 11.4 days versus only 6.2 days in patients without pneumothorax (p-value <0.001). Patients with iatrogenic pneumothorax, mortality occurred in 5 (83.3%) patients in whom pneumothorax occurred due to mechanical ventilation, 1 (33.3%) in patients with central venous catheter insertion, 2 (22.3%) in patients with pericardiocentesis and 2 (40.0%) in patients with thoracentesis. Conclusion: Pneumothorax is associated with a very high mortality and increased length of ICU stay. Mortality rate is higher in pneumothorax due to mechanical ventilation (barotrauma) as compared to other procedure related pneumothoraxes.