Collapsed Lung

About

We are recruiting patients who are admitted to hospital with a collapsed lung (pneumothorax). Patients often require treatment to re-inflate the lung. The trial is looking at whether low-grade suction applied to the chest tube, vs. no suction (which we call standard care), re-inflates the lung quicker. The trial is called RASPER, which stands for RANDOMISED TRIAL OF SUCTION FOR PRIMARY PNEUMOTHORAX EARLY RESOLUTION.

Why

It's hoped that applying suction will reduce length of stay in hospital and complications. Benefits include potential re-inflation more quickly in the suction group, but we do not know this for sure.

What's involved?

Your treatment will continue as normal, but you may be given a drain with or without suction; you will be told which treatment you are given. Every day, whilst you are in hospital, you will get an email with a link to a questionnaire with 2 questions about your pain. When you are discharged from hospital you will be followed up via a telephone by our research team.

More information

The study is run by the pleural team at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Research Nurse: Karl Hunter

Contact: wih-tr.ResearchDepartment@nhs.net