Video-assisted thoracic surgery as a primary therapy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Decision making by the guideline of high-resolution computed tomography.
BACKGROUND
Because blebs are confirmed in most of the patients undergoing thoracotomy, identification of blebs by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) can be proposed as a surgical indication in primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). If an apical bleb is identified, we treat the patient by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).


METHODS
From May 1995 to September 1997, 61 patients (21.9 +/- 4.6 years) were seen for initial episodes of PSP. Only seven showed bullae on simple chest radiography. However, by HRCT, 48 had sizable blebs (>5 mm), and 45 were treated surgically by VATS.


RESULTS
The mean duration of chest tube use after surgery was 3.2 +/- 1.9 days, and the mean hospital stay was 4.5 +/- 1.9 days. Only one recurrence developed 5 weeks after VATS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our protocol is effective in controlling an initial episode of PSP. It shortens the observation time before definitive surgical treatment, shortens the hospital stay, and decreases the likelihood of recurrence.
Kim
J
J
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
K
K
Shim
Y M
YM
Chang
W I
WI
Park
K H
KH
Jun
T G
TG
Park
P W
PW
Chae
H
H
Lee
K S
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014741:Video Recording