title: Single-incision versus conventional three-port video-assisted surgery in the treatment of pneumothorax: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery (SITS) has been applied in the treatment of pneumothorax. To establish the feasibility of SITS in comparison with conventional three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (3P-VATS), we conducted this meta-analysis.
  
  
  
  Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, SpringerLink and ScienceDirect. Studies that compared the outcomes between SITS and 3P-VATS were included for analysis.
  
  
  
  Nine eligible studies with 768 participants were included. Our analysis indicates that when compared with 3P-VATS, SITS was associated with less postoperative pain (weight mean difference, WMD = -0.67, 95% confidence interval, CI = -1.11 to -0.22, P = 0.004 for postoperative pain at 24 h; WMD = -0.62, 95% CI = -1.11 to -0.12, P = 0.01 for postoperative pain at 72 h), lower paraesthesia rate (odds ratio, OR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.04-0.21, P = 0.01) and shorter hospital stay (WMD = -0.34 days, 95% CI = -0.60 to -0.08, P = 0.01). No significant association was found in operative time, mean duration of chest tube, complications and recurrence rates.
  
  
  
  SITS was a safe and efficient procedure for the treatment of pneumothorax with less postoperative pain and faster recovery. The complication and recurrence rates were equivalent when compared with 3P-VATS.
authors.forename: Yanlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yunchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D061646:Operative Time; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D000072836:Surgical Wound; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Meta-analysis; Pneumothorax; Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery; Three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery