Clinical Analysis of Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Comparison of VATS Versus Limited Thoracotomy

Lee, Su Won; Lee, Gye Sun; Jung, Jin Ak; Keum, Dong Yoon; Ahn, Jung Tae; Lee, Jae won

Abstract

The bullectomy through the limited transaxillary thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) had been used in operative management of spontaneous pneumothorax from Jan. 1994 to July 1997. The study comprised a retrospective review of 42 cases which were treated by limited thoracotomy, and 61 cases treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic sugery. We retrospectively reviewed annual incidnce of bullectomy. Analysis of video-assised thoracoscopic surgery and open bullectomy including age, sex, operative sites, surgical indications, associated diseases, operative time, posoperatve complications and hospital courses. There was no significant difference for operation time in two groups, 98.3+/-38.4 minutes in thoracotomy and 95.7+/-31.5 minutes in VATS. Prolonged air leakage over 7 days was observed in 8 cases from thoracotomy group, 4 cases from VATS group. 3 cases of recurrent pneumothorax were found from VATS group, but no recurrence was occurred from open bullectomy group. There were significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (8.0+/-3.9 day in thoracotomy vs 5.9+/-2.4day in VATS (P=0.001)), and indwelling period of chest tube after operation ( 5.8+/-3.0day in thoracotomy vs 4.0+/-2.0day in VATS (P=0.0006)).