Abstract: Objective To study the risk factors and preventive measures of pneumothorax in the elderly patients with pleural effusion after puncture and drainage. Methods A total of 478 patients with pleural effusion treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected as the research subjects, and 50 patients were complicated with pneumothorax. The clinical data and general data of pneumothorax group and non-pneumothorax group were compared, and the risk factors of pneumothorax in the elderly patients with pleural effusion after puncture and drainage were analyzed. Results The age of pneumothorax group (t=13.110, P<0.01) was significantly higher and the body mass index (t=2.079, P=0.043) was significantly lower than that of non-pneumothorax group. In the two groups,the ratios of patients with puncture time ＞30 min (χ²=19.552, P<0.001), puncture angle ＞30° (χ²=22.361, P<0.001), puncture times ＞3 times (χ²=22.571, P<0.001), lesion size ＜3 cm (χ²=16.921, P<0.001) and lesion depth ＞5 cm (χ²=9.621, P<0.001) between the two groups were statistically different. Multivariate Logistic analysis showed higher age (OR=4.019, 95%CI:1.009-23.926), puncture time ＞30 min (OR=14.089, 95%CI:2.002-67.065), puncture angle ＞30° (OR=13.020, 95%CI:2.006-56.930), puncture times ＞3 times (OR=10.320, 95%CI:4.223-102.987), the size of the lesion ＜3 cm (OR=21.002, 95%CI:14.001-102.568), and the depth of the lesion ＞5 cm (OR=10.564, 95%CI:2.335-55.974) were risk factors for pneumothorax. Conclusions The incidence of pneumothorax in elderly patients with pleural effusion after puncture and drainage is influenced by puncture time, puncture angle, puncture times, lesion size and lesion depth. It is suggested that the clinical technology innovation and early intervention for the above patients can further reduce the occurrence of pneumothorax.

Key words: aged, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, risk factors