Abstract
Simultaneous bilateral bleb resection was done through bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy in 10 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax during the period from May 1991 to Novemver 1992 in whom bilateral bulla or bleb was detected with using simple chest X-ray and chest CT scanning. To compare the effectiveness of bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy, we investigated 10 unilateral transaxillary thoracotomy patients with spontaneous pneumothorax and two clinical reports from other institutes which dealt the results of bilateral bleb or bulla resection through median sternotomy also. In bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy group,mean operation time was 115 minute,mean intraoperative bleeding was 329 cc, mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 days. Postoperative ABGA[Arterial Blood Gas Analysis] was in normal range and postoperative recovery rates of FVC[Forced Vital Capacity], FEV1[Forced Expiratory Volume at 1 second], TV[Tidal Volume] were 84.3%, 93.4%, 88.7%,respectively. In median sternotomy group,mean operation time was 129 minute,mean intraoperative bleeding was 490 cc, mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.4 days. Postoperative ABGA was in normal range and postoperative recovery rates of FVC, FEV1 were 97.3%, 97.4%, respectively. In unilateral transaxillary thoracotomy group, postoperative ABGA was in normal range also and postoperative recovery rates of FVC, FEV1, TV were 91.6%, 99.0%, 96.0%,respectively. In conclusion, simultaneous bilateral bleb resection through bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy should be considered in pneumothorax patients with bilateral bleb or bulla because of cost-effectiveness[reducing hospital days] and better cosmetic result without any impairment in recovery of respiratory function.