Subxiphoid approach for spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax: a case report

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Techniques
• Pulmonary Pathology

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) improves recovery but pain persists.
• Bilateral thoracic procedures often require extensive incisions, increasing patient pain.
• Transthoracic incisions can cause significant intercostal nerve damage.

Observation:

• A patient presented with bilateral pulmonary pathology necessitating surgery.
• The patient required bilateral bullectomy and pleurectomy for pneumothorax management.
• Conventional VATS approaches would involve bilateral incisions.

Findings:

• A novel uniportal subxiphoid VATS approach was utilized.
• This single-incision technique facilitated bilateral thoracic surgery.
• The procedure successfully addressed the patient's bilateral pneumothorax.

Implications:

• The uniportal subxiphoid VATS approach minimizes surgical trauma.
• This technique avoids bilateral intercostal nerve damage associated with traditional methods.
• It presents a promising alternative for managing bilateral pulmonary conditions with reduced morbidity.