[Elective videothoracoscopy--a tool for prevention of primary spontaneous pneumothorax?]

Based on the retrospective analysis of the selected group of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP), the authors aim to demonstrate contribution of CT scan examinations and elective videothoracoscopic procedures in diagnostics and treatment of pulmonary conditions, predisposing the patient to the disorder.

During 2005-2007, 45 patients with PSPs underwent post-treatment CT lung examinations. Pathological findings potentially resulting in collapsed lung, were detected in nearly 25% of the subjects. All of the subjects (males, the mean age of 22.4 years) were then indicated for elective videothoracoscopy, in order to prevent potential PSP events. The procedure included peripheral endostapler lung lesion resection and mechanical pleurodesis (pleuroabrasion), resp. partial apical pleurectomy.

Pathological changes of the lung tissue were detected with the same rate in the both, right and left lung apices. In miniinvasive procedures, they were always easily located, as anticipated. In all of the subjects, the changed tissue was removed using peripheral lung resections, with concomittant pleuroabrasion in a half of the subjects, while in the other half of the subject, the procedure was combined with partial apical pleurectomy. Intraoperative morbidity and mortality were nil. The mean period of postoperative drainage was 5.5 days, the mean duration of hospitalization was a week. During the study period, no further PSP events were recorded.

CT examination-based detection of pneumothorax-predisposing pathological lung tissue changes and their subsequent removal using elective videothoracoscopy, is a valid and a patient-beneficial procedure.