PLEURODESIS WITH AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD - RESUL TS IN A SERIES OF 17 CASES FOLLOWED FOR MORE THAN ONE-YEAR

In an attempt to search for alternatives to the standard techniques of pleurodesis, we performed pleurodesis with autologous blood in 17 pat ients with spontaneous pneumothorax. The blood volume instilled in eve ry procedure ranged from 50 to 60 mi. In 16 cases (94%) the early clos ure of the fistula was achieved. The mean follow-up period ranged from 17 and 41 months (mean: 24.2 +/- 6.3). Twelve out of the 17 patients (71%) have not had relapses of pneumothorax after pleurodesis. Toleran ce was excellent, with only one complication reported: pleuritis resol ved with drainage and antibiotics. Pain was not reported in any case. The were 5 relapses (29%); three were controlled with drainage and two required surgery. The obtention of chest X-rays, CT and/or pleural ec hography, after pleurodesis, allowed the evaluation of radiologic effi ciency with that procedure. In 41% of cases suggestive findings of suc cess were obtained; in the remaining cases no radiologic findings were observed or they were nonspecific. Nevertheless, a Door correlation w as observed between radiologic findings and clinical course; therefore , these studies cannot be recommended on a regular basis. The current state of the art is commented and a consideration given to recent repo rts on this topic, and the advantages and drawbacks are evaluated. We conclude that future studies are necessary to properly place this proc edure.