Treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery:a clinical analysis of 96 cases

Objective To access the advantages and efficacy of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.Methods Retrospectively analyses of clinical data were conducted in 96 cases of,primary spontaneous pneumothorax who were treated with VATS from October 2004 to December 2009.During the operation,pulmonary bullae were resected with endo-GIA and treated by electrocoagulation auxiliary,and pleurodesis was performed with gauze friction.Results All the patients recovered with no mortality,and all were cured.The operation time ranged from 35 to 158 min.All cases were not converted to an open surgery,and had less blood loss,without blood transfusion.After the surgery,the patients received chest drainage for 2 to 9 days with a mean of 2.4 days,and time in hospital was for 4 to 13 days(mean,7.2 days).The patients were followed up for 6 to 60 months,showing that no pneumothorax was found relapsed.Conclusion As the operative indications are strictly controlled,VATS in the treatment of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax needs less thoracic drainage duration,perioperative blood loss,analagesics and hospitalization,as compared with thoracotomy.