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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with Multimodal Analgesia and Sevoflurane Inhalation Anesthesia
Published on: May 26, 2023
Preoperative saline-filled computed tomography thoracography for awake video-assisted thoracic surgery: report of
Tatsuaki Watanabe1, Masafumi Noda2, Toshimasa Okazaki2
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan. tatsuaki_watanabe@yahoo.co.jp.
Abstract:
Awake video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a therapeutic option for patients with intractable secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) complicated by impaired pulmonary function. The preoperative identification of air leak points is one of the keys to the success of this procedure. We describe how we performed saline-filled computed tomography (CT) thoracography to detect pleural fistulae in three patients with intractable SSP. Saline-filled CT thoracography showed bubble signs in two patients and an air-water level in bulla in one patient. The preoperative identification of air leak points resulted in successful awake VATS for all three patients. Our experience demonstrates that saline-filled CT thoracography is a useful diagnostic tool for SSP, especially when used in preparation for awake VATS when minimally invasive procedures are desirable.
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