Safety and Effect of a Limited Minithoracotomy for the Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

This study was performed to know the safety and efficacy of limited min-ithoracotomy, which is a new method of operative procedure modified from minithoracotomy.

Eleven consecutive patients who underwent a limited minithoracotomy for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax from Jan.1.1994 to Dec.31.1995 were reviewed with medical records, laboratory and x-ray findings, and followed by reaching patient by phone or interviewing at the outpatient department.

The indication of these consecutive 11 patients were recurrent pneumothrorax 4 cases, continuous air leaking 7 cases, and visible bullae on chest x-ray or chest CT 2 cases. There were 12 limited minithoracotomies in 11 patients including on bilateral limited minithoracotomy. Average operative time was 54 minutes. There was no conversion to extended thoracotomy from limited minithoracotomy. No postoperative bleeding or infection was oberved. One patient showed prolonged air leak after operation who had multiple bullae resected from his left upper and lower lung, and was discharged 18 days after operation with good condition. Another patient experienced air sucking during chest tube removal on 4th postoperative day and discharged on 9th day after operation. Other patients wre discharged within 5th postoperative day. Average hospital stay after operation was 5.4 days. All eleven patients were followed up for 12±7.7months. There was no recurrences of pneumothorax.

These results suggest that limited minithoracotomy is choice of treatment when primary spontaneous pneumothorax patient requires surgery.