Comparative retrospective study of surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Thoracotomy vs thoracoscopy.
BACKGROUND
Since May 1992 we have used video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of the spontaneous pneumothorax. In this study we review the results obtained with this technique and we compare them with those obtained by conventional surgery (1976-1992).


METHODS
110 patients (98 males and 12 females, age 15-83 years) were operated by VATS, and 627 patients (567 males and 60 females, age 14-89 years) by conventional surgery. The surgical technique and the complications are compared. No one died.


RESULTS
Although the number of complications was greater in the first group than in the second one (29.5% vs 15.1%), this is attributed to the lack of experience among surgeons in the first cases; which complications nearly disappeared in the last 60 patients. Less pain, better recovery, and shorter hospital stay resulted.


CONCLUSIONS
For us VATS is the ideal technique with which to treat spontaneous pneumothorax.
Jiménez-Merchán
R
R
Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
García-Díaz
F
F
Arenas-Linares
C
C
Girón-Arjona
J C
JC
Congregado-Loscertales
M
M
Loscertales
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*