For decades, there has been scanty evidence, most of which is of poor quality, to guide clinicians in the assessment and management of pneumothorax. A recent surge in pneumothorax research has begun to address controversies surrounding the topic and change the face of pneumothorax management. In this article, we review controversies concerning the etiology, pathogenesis, and classification of pneumothorax, and discuss recent advances in its management, including conservative and ambulatory management. We review the evidence base for the challenges of managing pneumothorax, including persistent air leak, and suggest new directions for future research that can help provide patient-centered, evidence-based management for this challenging cohort of patients.

几十年来，指导临床医生评估和治疗气胸的证据很少，其中大部分质量较差。最近气胸研究的激增已开始解决围绕该主题的争议并改变气胸治疗的面貌。在本文中，我们回顾了有关气胸的病因、发病机制和分类的争议，并讨论了气胸治疗的最新进展，包括保守治疗和门诊治疗。我们回顾了气胸管理挑战（包括持续漏气）的证据基础，并提出了未来研究的新方向，以帮助为这一具有挑战性的患者群体提供以患者为中心、基于证据的管理。