Abstract

• Video-assisted thoracoscopy has recently evolved as an alternative to thoracotomy for several thoracic disorders. Spontaneous pneumothorax may be idealy srited for thoracoscopic management. We compared our results with thoracoscopic management of spontaneous pneumothorax in 19 patients with a group of 11 patients previously subjected to axillary mini-thoracotomy. Indications of operation, sex distribution, and age were similar. There were no clinical significant differences in hospital stay, duration of chest tube, duration of operation, and amounts of parenteral analgesies between two group.
  Although the video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy was sasfe, effective, and newly developed, bullectomy by axillary mini-thoracotomy was acceptible also with excellent results for the patients.