AUDIT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX

This audit suggests that clinical practice in the management of sponta neous pneumothorax differs from guidelines issued by the British Thora cic Society. In particular simple aspiration was attempted in only sev en out of 65 patients and clamping of an intercostal chest drain occur red in 12 out of 50 cases. Junior medical staff require more training in intercostal drainage.