Editor's Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Patients with large spontaneous pneumothorax have traditionally been managed inhospital with a chest tube. Small studies have described outpatient management with pigtail catheter and 1-way valve.
What question this study addressed
Can patients with large spontaneous pneumothoraces be safely managed as outpatients with pigtail catheter and 1-way valve?
What this study adds to our knowledge
In this retrospective single-center series of 132 consecutive patients, approximately 80% were treated successfully without hospital admission.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
If confirmed in randomized trials in other centers, outpatient management of large spontaneous pneumothoraces in this manner may become preferred first-line treatment.