Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax using multi-degrees of freedom forceps.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the perioperative results of a single-incision approach using multi-DOF forceps for spontaneous pneumothorax, in comparison with the traditional 3-port approach.


METHODS
Between May 2012 and June 2013, 44 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent SITS, and their clinical characteristics and perioperative results were evaluated. We then compared those who had undergone SITS (SITS group) with those who had undergone traditional 3-port surgery before the study period (3-port group).


RESULTS
The two groups were similar in terms of mean patient age and pneumothorax laterality (p = 0.81, 0.38), but the proportion of male patients was higher in the 3-port group than in the SITS group (p = 0.0026). Operation time in the SITS group (52.4 min) was longer than in the 3-port group (35.9 min, p &lt;0.0001). The duration of postoperative drainage and hospital stay did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.19, 0.075). Although 14 of the 56 SITS patients (25%) showed mild adhesion in the pleural cavity, none required conversion to a 3-port approach. The bullous region in two or three lobes was resected in 23 patients (41%).


CONCLUSIONS
SITS using multi-DOF forceps is a useful approach for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in selected patients.
Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
Hitoshi
H
Igai
Mitsuhiro
M
Kamiyoshihara
Takashi
T
Ibe
Natsuko
N
Kawatani
Kimihiro
K
Shimizu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult