Pleurodesis For Spontaneous Pneumothorax Research Articles

Thoracoscopic Talc Pleurodesis for the Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Background: During the Belgian Surgical Week in May 2004 some controversy existed on the optimal treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Doubts raised about the safety of talc in performing pleurodesis because of reported complications.Methods: A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of thoracoscopic pleurodesis with talc was performed. Patients operated for spontaneous pneumothorax were analysed focusing on complications and freedom of recurrence. A literature search was performed on complications from the use of talc to treat pleural disease. Results: From September 1999 till August 2004 forty-one patients had a thoracoscopic pleurodesis with talc. In 21 patients this was performed for recurrent malignant pleural effusion and in 20 for spontaneous pneumothorax. In 5 of these 20 patients we faced a secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. In seven patients an apical pulmonary wedge resection of bullae was performed. No intra-operative or serious postoperative complications were seen in these patients. All drains were removed after 4 to 6 days. No episodes of respiratory insufficiency occurred. No recurrence was encountered during a mean follow-up of 22.7 months.Conclusion: Thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax was effective and safe in our experience. In the literature no convincing evidence against the use of talc to treat pleural disease was found. Although some cases of ARDS are attributed to the pleural administration of talc, the incidence of complications after talc poudrage appears to be low.

Resection of Pulmonary Blebs and Pleurodesis for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Over a 20-year period, 83 patients underwent operative pleurodesis with resection of pulmonary blebs for spontaneous pneumothorax. Follow-up for all patients was between 5 and 25 years, with a mean of 9.1 years. There were five early (5.6 percent) and three late recurrences (3.6 percent). There were no deaths or need for blood transfusion in our series. There was a low incidence of postoperative fever (n = 8), minor wound infection (n = 6), air leak (n = 6), or pneumonia (n = 2). The low morbidity and recurrence rates compare favorably with published series of alternative treatment options for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax: Experience with intrapleural olive oil in high risk patients

Spontaneous pneumothorax is rare among Nigerians, but our experience with olive oil confirms its advantages as a good agent for chemical pleurodesis. Clinical and supporting experimental data from rabbits are presented. In high risk patients with poor respiratory reserve, including some who have bronchopleural fistulas and are unfit for surgery, chemical pleurodesis offers an alternative method for maintaining reexpansion and preventing recurrence.