Table 5

Efficacy of blood pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP and SSP) via chest drain

Study authorYearStudy designTotal number of casesPSP or SSP? (n)Intervention (n)Intervention recurrence rate
(95% CI)
Control/reference arm (n)?Control/reference recurrence rate
(95% CI)
Follow-up period
(months)
OR (vs control/reference)
(95% CI)
Prospective series
Cagirici481998Prospective series167PSP (116)
SSP (51)
Blood via chest drain (32)15.6% (6.0% to 40.6%)Drainage only (135)28.1% (19.3% to 41.0%)12–480.47 (0.17 to 1.32)
Ando661999Prospective series11SSP (11)Blood via chest drain (11)18.2% (3.9% to 84.1%)2–24
Retrospective series
Aihara362011Retrospective case series36SSP (36)Blood via chest drain (22)36.4% (15.3% to 86.7%)Talc (14)21.4% (6.0% to 76.8%)15MN2.10 (0.45 to 9.81)
Evman502016Retrospective case series31SSP (31)Blood via chest drain (31)16.1%*
(6.2% to 42.0%)
29MN
Robinson491987Retrospective case series25UnclearBlood via chest drain (25)16.0% (5.5% to 46.6%)24–132
  • Follow-up range shown if no average given.

  • *Includes early treatment failures.

  • MN, mean; PSP, primary spontaneous pneumothorax; SSP, secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.