Abstract
The review of 68 patients, who were diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax during the period from Dec, 1991. to Jul, 1992. were performed thoracoscopy of 70 cases under local anesthesia with 1% lidocaine at the department of thoracic & cardiovascular surgery, HanYang University Hospital. Clinical data on distribution of Age & Sex, Location, Frequency of Reccurrence and other aspects of pneumothorax were summerized.37 cases were treated by thoracoscopic management and closed thoracostomy. As thoracoscopic management, Electrocauterization of bullae or blebs[37 cases], Endo-clip application [2 cases], Removal of foreign body[1 case] were performed. 31 cases were cured by open thoracotomy. The thoracotomy indications under thoracoscopic finding were followed as: 1. Severe pulmonary adhesion and destroyed lung parenchyme 2. multiple bullae or blebs on several areas 3. finding of pulmonary tuberculous caseous lesion 4. persistant air leakage after 7 days from thoracoscopic management Excision, wedge resection of bullae or blebs was performed in most cases [22 cases], 2 cases by median sternotomy and Segmentectomy of 7 cases were carried out depending on the pathologic change of lung.There was no operative mortality and Follow-up for all patients were showed good results.