Single-port thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax under two-lung ventilation with carbon dioxide insufflation.
BACKGROUND
The development of single-port thoracoscopic surgery and two-lung ventilation reduced the invasiveness of minor thoracic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of single-port thoracoscopic bleb resection for primary spontaneous pneumothorax using two-lung ventilation with carbon dioxide insufflation.


METHODS
Between February 2009 and May 2014, 130 patients underwent single-port thoracoscopic bleb resection under two-lung ventilation with carbon dioxide insufflation. Access was gained using a commercial multiple-access single port through a 2.5-cm incision; carbon dioxide gas was insufflated through a port channel. A 5-mm thoracoscope, articulating endoscopic devices, and flexible endoscopic staplers were introduced through a multiple-access single port for bulla resection.


RESULTS
The mean time from endotracheal intubation to incision was 29.2±7.8 minutes, the mean operative time was 30.9±8.2 minutes, and the mean total anesthetic time was 75.5±14.4 minutes. There were no anesthesia-related complications or wound problems. The chest drain was removed after a mean of 3.7±1.4 days and patients were discharged without complications 4.8±1.5 days from the operative day. During a mean 7.5±10.1 months of follow-up, there were five recurrences (3.8%) in operated thorax.


CONCLUSIONS
The anesthetic strategy of single-lumen intubation with carbon dioxide gas insufflation can be a safe and feasible option for single-port thoracoscopic bulla resection as it represents the least invasive surgical option with the potential advantages of reducing operative time and one-lung ventilation-related complications without diminishing surgical outcomes.
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kook Nam
KN
Han
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Koo
HK
Kim
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Joo
HJ
Lee
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Dong Kyu
DK
Lee
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Heezoo
H
Kim
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sang Ho
SH
Lim
1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Young Ho
YH
Choi
Pneumothorax; anesthesia; minimally invasive surgery; thoracoscopy/video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS); ventilation