Objective: Pneumothorax is a common occurrence in intensive care units. Whereas causes of traumatic pneumothorax is generally blunt and penetrating traumas, iatrogenic pneumothorax may occur after procedures like central venous catheterization, positive-pressure mechanical ventilation and thoracentesis.
Material and Method: This study evaluated the data from 69 patients diagnosed with pneumothorax and followed up and treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between the dates 01.01.2013 and 01.01.2015. The records were used to establish the patients age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and cause of pneumothorax, as well as the time of insertion of chest tube, total duration of chest tube and ICU length of stay. Pneumothorax patients were evaluated in two groups based on their etiologies as Traumatic Pneumothorax Group (Group T) and Iatrogenic Pneumothorax Group (Group I).
Results: The pneumothorax incidence in our intensive care unit was found to be 2.53%, and all of the cases were acquired pneumothorax. 57 out of 69 cases were traumatic, most having developed bilaterally compared to the cases in the iatrogenic group, diagnosed with Computarized Tomography of Thorax (CToT) and had a higher rate of thoracentesis. In Group T, chest tube was inserted earlier and mechanical ventilation duration and ICU length of stay were shorter.
Conclusion: Pneumothorax is one of main emergency events in ICU patients. Even though it is rare, it should be diagnosed early. Our study confirms that pneumothorax in ICU is always acquired and mostly traumatic. Traumatic pneumothorax is associated with shorter mechanical ventilation duration and shorter ICU length of stay compared to iatrogenic pneumothorax.
Key words: Pneumothorax, traumatic, iatrogenic, intensive care unit
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