[Minidrainage in pneumothorax is expensive, but still beneficial. Considerate for the patient, reducing the number of hospitalization days].

: Initial tests (ten patients) are reported of a compact device, Tru-close, for the evacuation of pneumothorax. It consists of a small-bore plastic catheter combined with a small box containing a flutter-valve. Ease of insertion, safe function, stable fixation and painless removal were features found. Complications were pain on insertion in one patient and leakage of pleural fluid from the device in another. The unit is expensive, but in cases of simple pneumothorax without fluid it would seem possible to manage patients on an out-patient basis, thus saving several days' worth of hospitalization costs.