title: Thoracoscopic intracavitary drainage for pneumothorax secondary to bullous emphysema.
abstract: Most patients with spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to bullous emphysema are successfully managed by chest-tube drainage. Occasionally a very large air leak prevents full lung expansion. The authors report on a patient in whom thoracoscopic intracavitary drainage of a leaking bulla led to rapid resolution of the pneumothorax and obliteration of the bulla. A large bronchopleural fistula was converted to a controlled bronchocutaneous fistula. The authors conclude that when conventional management fails to provide full lung expansion in cases of pneumothorax secondary to bullous emphysema, thoracoscopic intracavitary drainage is useful.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Diseases Unit, Misericordia Hospital, Edmonton, Alta.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Urschel
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Dickout
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001768:Blister; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000150:complications*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013906:Thoracoscopy