Videothoracoscopic operations for bullous lung disease.
Recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothoraces can be treated easily by videothoracoscopic techniques. Although long-term follow-up is still lacking, VATS apical blebectomy and apical pleurectomy give excellent short-term results with recurrence rates below 1%. Because the technique is less invasive than open thoracotomy, it is also advantageous for the treatment of patients with pneumothoraces secondary to emphysema. Thoracoscopic treatment of diffuse emphysema remains investigational.
Jacques
L F
LF
Division of Thoracic Surgery, l'Hôpital Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014741:Video Recording