[Cost comparison of minimal invasive surgery vs. standard operation exemplified by primary pneumothorax]

In patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, the costs for a minimally invasive operation were retrospectively compared with the costs for a standard operation using lateral thoracotomy. The calculations were based on the direct costs for the operation, the expenditures for the in-hospital stay, and the socioeconomic costs in terms of working disability. The results demonstrate that the high expenses for the minimally invasive operation are compensated by the reduction in costs due to a shorter in-hospital stay and a shorter recovery time in patients treated by minimally invasive surgery.