Video-assisted thoracic surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review our experience with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for pulmonary aspergilloma. The patients (n=20) were aged 62+/-12 years, and eight (40%) were aged 70 years or more. The disease types were simple aspergilloma (SA) in six patients and complex aspergilloma (CA) in 14. The surgical procedures performed were lobectomy in 14 patients, segmentectomy in two, and wedge resection in four. The operation time was shorter (143+/-69 min vs. 216+/-85 min; P=0.08) and the blood loss was less (10+/-17 ml vs. 307+/-346 ml; P<0.01) for patients with SA than those with CA. Postoperative death occurred in one patient with CA who developed a bronchial stump fistula (30-day mortality; 5.0%). During follow-up, three patients died from other non-disease-related causes, and the remaining 17 patients survived without recurrence. The 5-year survival rate was 89%. In suitable cases, VATS for pulmonary aspergilloma may not be inferior to open surgery with regard to safety and efficacy. In particular, SA is considered to be a good indication for VATS.