TY - JOUR T1 - Outpatient management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax- A safety and economic review JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P3087 AU - Deepak S. Rao AU - Caroline Morley AU - Liju Ahmed Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3087.abstract N2 - Background: At Guys and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust uncomplicated primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) are managed as outpatient using a normal seldinger drain attached with pneumostat valve as opposed to standard British Thoracic Society guidelines. We conducted a retrospective service evaluation of the new outpatient model looking at the safety and health economic impact.Methods:A retrospective data of all patients presented with PSP between was 1 January 2011 to 30 December 2012 was compiled. Data was collected for length of stay (LOS); complications such as pain, infection, bleeding, drain falling out and the ability for patients to self manage.Inclusion criteria – uncomplicated PSP requiring chest tube insertion.Exclusion Criteria – any secondary pneumothorax or complicated primary PSP and significant co-morbidities.The cost of acute medical bed was calculated from our hospital finance department.Results:Data for 84 patients with pneumothorax was collected.39 patients met the above inclusion criteria- 23 Inpatients: 16 Outpatient.Of the 23 inpatient (15 Male: 8 Female), age range was 17 - 36 years. Mean LOS was 7 days (range of 1 to 12 days).16 outpatients (11 Male: 4 female) age range 16.5 to 33 years. LOS for this group was less than 1 day.No significant difference was noted in terms of complications between the 2 groups. None of the patients had problems managing the drain out of hospital.The average total bed day cost was £225. Mean cost saving was £1575 (£225 - £2700).Conclusions:This study clearly demonstrates outpatient management of uncomplicated PSP is safe with significant reduction in LOS to less than 1 day with significant health economic impact. ER -