Are patients aware of their risk of further recurrence after index pneumothorax surgery?

<bold>BACKGROUND:</bold> An important aim of surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax is the reduction of future recurrence risk. It is essential that patients have a clear understanding of their ongoing ipsilateral pneumothorax risk after surgery. We sought to evaluate this awareness amongst patients who had previously undergone surgery for pneumothorax at our institution. <bold>Methods:</bold> A questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically by text-message to all patients who underwent surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax at a single UK-based institution between 2010 and 2023. [Registration: 12630] <bold>Results:</bold> 435 patients (67% male, operated between the ages of 16 and 86) representing 478 operations (45 patients - 10% - had surgery on both sides) for pneumothorax responded. 12% (n = 57) of pneumothoraces reportedly recurred after ipsilateral surgery. 56% (n = 245) of patients did not know what their lifetime recurrence risk was after index pneumothorax surgery. 14% (n= 63) believe that there was no risk of ipsilateral pneumothorax recurrence after surgery. 16% (n = 70) quoted a recurrence risk of 1 in 20 or less. 4% (n = 18) felt the risk was up to 1 in 10 and 3% (n = 13) up to 1 in 5; whilst 6% (n = 26) thought their risk of recurrence was higher than 1 in 5. <bold>CONCLUSION:</bold> There is a high degree of variation in patients’ recall of their expected ipsilateral pneumothorax recurrence risk after surgery. This highlights a potential role for improved communication in a way that is understandable and memorable to patients.