[Videothoracoscopy in the surgical treatment of pneumothorax: report of 46 cases].
We report our 3-years experience with video-thoracoscopy for pneumothorax. Forty-six endoscopies (34 men, 12 women; mean age 27 +/- 9 years) were performed. Patients were under general anesthesia and intubation was selective. The conventional approach was used, with 3 incisions through which the camera and endoscopic instruments were inserted. Results were good in 39 (84.7%) patients. Pneumothorax recurred in 4 (8.7%) patients during the 3 years of follow-up. Thoracotomy was performed in 3 patients, because of lack of lung expansion in 1, persistent leak in another and encapsulated empyema in the third. Mean hospital stay after surgery was 7.3 days. Video-thoracoscopy can be considered a good therapeutic alternative to thoracotomy in the surgical treatment of patients with pneumothorax.
Izquierdo
J M
JM
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Vizcaya.
Pac
J
J
Casanova
J
J
Mariñán
M
M
Rojo
R
R
Rumbero
J C
JC
Vara
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014741:Video Recording
Videotoracoscopia en el tratamiento quirúrgico del neumotórax: a propósito de 46 casos.