Needlescopic versus conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a comparative study.
BACKGROUND
Management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax by needlescopic video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has rarely been attempted and no comparison study with conventional VATS is available. In this study, we compared the clinical outcomes of needlescopic VATS with conventional VATS in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The technique and our experience with needlescopic VATS are reported.


METHODS
Between April 2001 and April 2002, a total of 63 patients with recurrent, persistent, or contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax were recruited for this study. Operative procedures included needlescopic VATS in 28 patients and conventional VATS in 35 patients. We used a modified operative technique to improve the poor and narrower vision of the needle-videothoracoscope.


RESULTS
There was no mortality or major complications in either of the two groups. Needlescopic and conventional VATS groups had comparable operation times, postoperative pain, requested doses of meperidine hydrochloride, durations of postoperative chest drainage, and length of hospital stay. After a mean follow-up of 8 months, the needlescopic VATS group had less residual neuralgia (p = 0.021) and better wound satisfaction (p = 0.043) than the conventional VATS group. Ipsilateral recurrence of pneumothorax occurred in 1 patient (3.6%) in the needlescopic VATS group but not in any patients in the conventional VATS group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience showed that needlescopic VATS is technically feasible and can be a satisfactory alternative to conventional VATS in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Limited vision of needlescopic VATS can be improved by the modified technique we used. However, conversion to conventional VATS or minithoracotomy is suggested in selected patients to prevent early recurrence.
Chen
Jin-Shing
JS
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Hsao-Hsun
HH
Kuo
Shuenn-Wen
SW
Tsai
Pi-Ru
PR
Chen
Robert J
RJ
Lee
Jang-Ming
JM
Lee
Yung-Chie
YC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine