Bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the supine position for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

On the basis of the bilateral nature of bullous lesions of the lung, the authors have performed single-stage bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the supine position for primary spontaneous pneumothorax in five patients since October 1999. All five patients were males with a mean age of 23 years (range 19 to 29 years). The presenting pneumothorax was ipsilateral (right-sided) in four patients and simultaneous bilateral in the one remaining patient. Apart from the one case of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP), all patients had a history of at least one pneumothorax episode requiring tube thoracotomy. Bilateral bullae were confirmed in all patients on preoperative chest computed tomography (CT). Bilateral bullectomy was performed by endo-stapler with no difficulties. Mean operating time was 111 minutes (range 85 to 140 minutes). All patients were returned to the surgical ward in good condition from the operating room immediately after extubation. No complications were observed, and duration of postoperative hospital stay was two to four days. All patients were alive without recurrence of pneumothorax after a mean follow-up period of 25 months (range, 9 to 43 months). Single-stage bilateral VATS in the supine position has shown itself to be an excellent approach for the treatment of bilateral bullous lesions, combining both efficacy and low morbidity.