Thoracoscopic Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

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The result of thoracotomy for recurrent and persistent pneumothorax is usually excellent. However the patients undergone thoracotomy suffer from postoperative chest pain and require long postoperative recovery period. Also the operative incision scar gives the patients cosmetic problems. Subpleural blebs are usually causes of pneumothorax. They can be reached through the thoracoscope without thoracotomy and can be ablated by electrical cautery through it. Six patients with recurrent and persistent pneumothorax were managed thoracoscopic-ally. Five patients were successful and one case was failed. The failed case was explored 21 days after thoracoscopy. Follow-up period was from one to eight months. Although the follow-up period was short, thoracoscopic management of recurrent and persistent pneumothorax is thought to be good for preventing thoracotomy.