Additional mechanical pleurodesis after thoracoscopic wedge resection and covering procedure for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
BACKGROUND
Additional mechanical pleurodesis for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is believed to reduce the recurrence of PSP, and a covering procedure with absorbable mesh also shows comparable results. This study was conducted to determine whether additional mechanical pleurodesis would be effective in reducing recurrence after thoracoscopic wedge resection and covering procedure.


METHODS
Between May 2003 and August 2005, 99 patients underwent thoracoscopic bullectomy with staple line covering with absorbable cellulose mesh and fibrin glue followed by an additional mechanical pleurodesis. These patients were compared with 98 patients who underwent thoracoscopic bullectomy with staple line coverage alone.


RESULTS
The additional mechanical pleurodesis group had findings comparable to those of the coverage group for duration of postoperative chest drainage, length of hospital stay, and complication rate. After median follow-up of 29.2 months, postoperative recurrence occurred in four patients (4.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
Additional mechanical pleurodesis after covering procedure is also effective in decreasing postoperative recurrence of PSP.
Cho
Sukki
S
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. skcho@knu.ac.kr
Ryu
Kyoung-Min
KM
Jheon
Sanghoon
S
Sung
Sook-Whan
SW
Kim
Byung-Ho
BH
Huh
Dong Myung
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D055815:Young Adult