title: [Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the operational procedures, indications, and the long-term results of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy three cases of spontaneous pneumothorax treated with VATS in our hospital between 1995 and 2001 were analyzed. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was found in 157 cases and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) in 16 cases. In patients with PSP, pneumothorax occurred for the first time in 65 (41.4%) cases, and recurred at least once in 92 (58.6%) cases. Among them three patients underwent simultaneous bilateral VATS for simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, and 6 underwent two-stage bilateral VATS. In patients with SSP, 6 had recurrent pneumothorax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the Vanderschueren's classification, no abnormality was found in 34 (19.7%) cases, pleuro-pulmonary adhesions in 41 (23.7%) cases and bullae in 98 (56.7%) cases. Pleurodesis and stapling under Endo-cutter were the major operational procedures used in these cases. The median follow-up time was 53 months. The long-term recurrence rate was 1.8%. Complications related to surgery occurred in 3.0% of the cases, which included subcutaneous emphysema, localized pleural effusion and prolonged air leakage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS is a safe and effective treatment for both initial and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, and therefore it is becoming the primary treatment modality for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, No.5 Hospital, Wuxi Pulmonary Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Jing-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qian-kun
authors.initials: QK
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Da-wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yi-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ruo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome