[Video-assisted thoracoscopy in the treatment of recurrent pneumothorax]

Between April 1992 and May 1994, 45 patients with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax underwent videoassisted thoracoscopy (group I). The mean chest tube duration, the length of hospital stay, the use of parenteral narcotics, the complications and the follow-up were analyzed and compared to the same data of a group of 21 patients previously treated by open approach between January 1991 and March 1993 (group II). Average age, sex and surgical indications distribution were comparable (group I: 36 males, 9 females, mean age 31.7 years; group II: 17 males, 4 females, mean age 31.5 years). Mean chest tube duration was lower in group I (group I 4.3 days vs group II 7.2 days), as was mean hospital stay (group I 4.6 days vs group II 10.3 days) and the necessity of parenteral narcotics for pain relief (group I 11% vs group II 66% of patients). No episodes of relapsing pneumothorax occurred in either group of patients after a mean follow-up of 12.4 months (range from 1-24 months) for group I and 30 months (range from 24-36 months) for group II. The incidence of minor complications was less in group I (4.4%) than group II (23.8%). Our early results in the treatment of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax by videoassisted thoracoscopy have been encouraging and the merits of this approach make it preferable to thoracotomy.