Long-term results after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for first-time and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.
BACKGROUND
Few investigators have reported on results after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) with follow-up periods longer than 24 months. The aim of this study was to evaluate VATS for first-time and recurrent SP and to follow patients long-term.


METHODS
One hundred nine patients were followed long-term after treatment of SP by VATS. Ninety-five patients had primary SP and 14 had secondary SP. Sixty-two patients had a first episode and 47 had a recurrence. In 72 patients leaks or ruptured blebs were identified and excised without subsequent pleurodesis. In 37 patients showing no ruptured bullae or leaks only pleurodesis was applied.


RESULTS
Median follow-up was 53.2 months. Postoperative complications were rare. Three patients (2.7%) had a prolonged air leak. The long-term recurrence rate was 4.6%. Only those patients who had not received pleurodesis at the time of first treatment by VATS experienced recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediate postoperative results show VATS to be a safe and reliable method in first-time and recurrent SP to obtain quick reexpansion of the lung. Long-term recurrence rates are acceptable and compare with results after open thoracotomy. Pleurodesis should be included in each procedure for adequate recurrence prevention.
Department of Surgery and General Thoracic Surgery, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. hatz@gch.med.uni-muenchen.de
R A
RA
Hatz
M F
MF
Kaps
G
G
Meimarakis
F
F
Loehe
C
C
Müller
H
H
Fürst
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors