Impact of Ambulatory Management for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in the Emergency Department on Quality of Life

"* Chest tube drainage in emergency department (Furhmann drain connected to Heimlich valve), connected to suction system at -5 to -10 cm H2O until bubbling stops~* Follow-up imaging at 4 hours (chest X-ray or low-dose CT scan, depending on management practices in the centers)~ * if the pneumothorax is still very large, or if clinical tolerance is unsatisfactory (dyspnea, unrelieved pain, abnormal vital parameters), the patient should be admitted to hospital~ * if the lung is in the process of reattachment and a minimal detachment persists, and clinical tolerance is good (assessed on vital parameters, with oxygen saturation above 98%, good hemodynamic stability and pain relieved by analgesics), the patient may be discharged home."

"Hospitalisation in a hospital department (pulmonology, thoracic surgery, short-stay emergency unit, critical care, according to the usual pathway of the center in which the patient is included).~In-hospital monitoring until complete resolution of pneumothorax and drain removal (average 4-6 days)."