title: Efficacy of an absorbable polyglycolic acid patch in surgery for pneumothorax due to silicosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) patch in surgery for refractory pneumothorax due to silicosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed of 56 patients who received thoracotomy or thoracoscopic surgery for refractory pneumothorax due to silicosis between 1995 and 2010. An absorbable PGA patch was used as a reinforcement or repair material after resection of the bulla in 24 operations and it was not used in another 32 operations. Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups (with a PGA and without a PGA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the duration of postoperative chest drainage (5.04±1.12 days vs. 8.19±1.60 days, p<0.01) and hospital stay after the operation (8.33±1.34 days vs. 11.56±1.50 days, p<0.01) were significantly shorter in patients who used an absorbable PGA patch in the operation compared with those who did not use a PGA patch. The incidence of initial air leakage (58.3% [14/24] vs. 93.8% [30/32], p<0.05) and relapse rate of pneumothorax in 6 months (4% [1/24] vs. 25% [8/32], p<0.05) were also significantly lower in patients who used an absorbable PGA patch in the operation compared with those who did not use a PGA patch. No related adverse effects of the absorbable PGA patch occurred after the operations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of an absorbable PGA patch as a reinforcement or repair material in surgery for refractory pneumothorax due to silicosis can reduce postoperative air leakage and improve clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, and Department of Clinical Skills Center, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chuang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Chao-Xi
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012829:Silicosis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D011100:Polyglycolic Acid