Transaxillary thoracotomy for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax

This study reports the retrospective analysis of operative treatment of 20 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax during the last 4 years. Surgical indications included recurrence, recollapse of the lung on clamping the chest tube, nonexpansion of the lung despite adequate drainage or persistent air leak, and giant bulla. A transaxillary thoracotomy was used in all cases to treat sites of air leak and subpleural blebs by resection (14 cases) or oversutering (4 cases) combined with pleural abrasion (19 cases) or apical pleurectomy (1 case). This approach has met with excellent results without major morbidity or mortality.