Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Experience in Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Early Results

Abstract

Background: Pneumothorax without underlying lung disease is the definition of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). When an interventional technique is required for its treatment, Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) is the procedure of choice. It is associated with a marked reduction in operation time, post-operative pain atelectasis, and shorter hospital stay with an accepted recurrence rate of around 3%. Objective: We aimed to evaluate cases with PSP who were treated by VATS at Cairo and Minoufia Universities Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 19 successive cases with a mean age of 44 years old, both sex who underwent VATS procedure for PSP. Under general anesthesia & double lumen intubation, VATS was conducted. The same surgical team conducted apical pleurectomy or mechanical abrasion and bullectomy on 19 of the patients who had VATS. Results: Regarding the postoperative results, hospital stay ranged from 2-7 days with a mean (±SD) value of 27.05±6.75 years. No case needed ICU admission. Regarding the postoperative complications, ICT removal ranged from 1-3days with a mean (±SD) value of 1.15 ± 0.27 days. Air leaks occurred in 2 (10.53%), Wound infection did not occur in any case. Conclusions: VATS is superior to open thoracotomy as regards cosmetics short operation timeless pain less atelectasis and shorter hospital stay