Thoracoscopic use of laser in intractable pneumothorax

A neodymium:yttrium, aluminum, garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used via the instrumentation port of a standard thoracoscope for the sealing of air leaks, ablation of bullae, transection of adhesions and partial parietal pleurectomy in 13 patients with intractable pneumothorax. The mean duration of tube thoracostomy prior to treatment was 10 days (range 4 to 21 days). All patients had intractable air leakage. Three patients had chronic lung collapse of over 50% despite adequate chest drainage. All cases were treated with thoracoscopic laser. The source of air leakage was found to be ruptured bullae in 11 cases and a lung tear in 2 cases. In five cases the bullae were multiple. In 11 cases the air leakage stopped within 24 h of treatment, with a single self-limiting episode of recurrent air leakage. In two of the cases of chronic pneumothorax the lung failed to expand because of sizable bronchopleural fistulae. They required thoracotomy stapling of bullae and limited thoracoplasty. The mean duration of tube thoracostomy after thoracoscopic laser in the 11 successfully treated patients was 2.72 days (range 1 to 5 days). We conclude laser-assisted thoracoscopy is a useful therapeutic option when treating persistent air leakage. In most cases this method prevents prolonged periods of tube thoracostomy and obviates thoracotomy. In cases of chronic collapse of the lung with bronchopleural fistulae this technique may not be successful.