Oxygen saturation is associated with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax treated by intercostal chest drainage.

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a condition that may lead to acute chest pain or dyspnea on exertion. Treatment with an intercostal chest drainage (ICD) is warranted. There is limited data on risk factors of recurrent PSP in patients treated with the ICD alone. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors of recurrent PSP in patients with PSP and treated with the ICD.

Methods: This was a retrospective study and enrolled patients diagnosed as PSP and treated with an ICD. Eligible patients were divided into two groups by evidence of recurrent PSP. Baseline characteristics, physical signs, laboratory results, and duration of ICD treatment were studied and recorded from medical charts. Factors associated with recurrent PSP were computed by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: There were 80 patients met the study criteria. Of those, 21 patients (26.3%) had recurrent PSP. Of those, 21 patients (26.3%) had recurrent PSP. There were eight factors in the final model for recurrent PSP. Only oxygen saturation at the time of diagnosis was independently associated with recurrent PSP. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confident interval) was 0.57 (0.34, 0.96). A cut point of 96% of oxygen saturation gave sensitivity of recurrent PSP of 80.95%.

Conclusion: The prevalence of recurrent PSP was 26.3% in patients with PSP and treated with the ICD. Initial oxygen saturation may be an indicator for recurrent PSP.