title: Videothoracoscopic approach to recurrence primary spontaneous pneumothorax: using of electrocoagulation in small bulla/blebs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of electrocoagulation of bullae/blebs and apical pleurectomy via videothoracoscopic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 42 patients who underwent Videoassisted thoracoscopy (VATS) procedure for recurrence primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) from 200022006. There were 30 male and 12 female patients with a median age of 30 years. The percentage of pneumothorax was calculated median of 60% (British Thoracic Society Guideline - 2003). Thirty-two (76.2%) bullae/blebs were observed with the median diameter of 15 mm (5-30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bulla ablation via cauterisation and apical pleurectomy was performed in 32 patients. Ten patients underwent only apical pleurectomy/abrasion because in this group there was not any either bulla or bleb could be found. The median duration of drainage time was 3 days. There was no mortality and complications occurred in five (11.9%) patients. Only two (4.76%) recurrence occurred during the 52 months (5 to 76) median follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Videothoracoscopic bulla ablation with apical pleurectomy is a safe method for recurrence PSP. Especially, if the bulla or bleb is smaller than 20 mm the ablation via cauterisation reduces the expenses of VATS procedure by avoiding the use of stapler devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alpay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orki
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demirhan
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: C Asim
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arman
keywords: Electrocoagulation; Prevent; Recurrent pneumothorax; VATS