[Thoracoscopy in management of spontaneous pneumothorax].

OBJECTIVES: To estimate possibilities of video-assisted thoracoscopy in surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 209 clinical cases of spontaneous pneumothorax, which underwent urgent thoracoscopy, is presented. RESULTS: Eighty eight patients underwent coagulation of small bullos, twenty six - parietal pleura electroscarification, 12 - mechanical pleurodesis. Four patients underwent thoracoscopic parietal pleurectomy and wedge resection. The postoperative drainage time for spontaneous pneumothorax was 3-4 days. Hospital stay - 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: Modern video-assisted thoracoscopy diagnostics and surgical treatment are inseparable parts of management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a safe, simple, less traumatic and effective diagnostic and treatment procedure of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.