Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery For Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax Research Articles

Comparison of single-port vs. two-port VATS technique for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Background Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been used for thoracic surgery for about two decades. As the trend in VATS is to use fewer ports to decrease postoperative complications, we compared the results of our experience with single-port and two-port VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Material and methods This is a non-randomized retrospective study. From January 2017 to December 2018, 104 patients with PSP underwent VATS. Fifty-six patients received single-port VATS and 48 patients received two-port VATS. Operation time, blood loss, number of staplers used, drainage time, postoperative hospital stay, complications, chest wall paresthesia, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and patient satisfaction scale scores were compared between the two groups. Results There was no difference in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, surgical indication, and involved side between the two groups. The procedures performed in the single-port group were similar to those performed in the two-port group. No significant difference was found in operation time, blood loss, number of staplers used, drainage time, and recurrence rate. The rate of chest wall paresthesia was lower in the single-port group than in the two-port group (28.6 vs. 52.1%, p = .014). The VAS scores in the single-port group were lower than those in the two-port group at 24 and 48 h (p = .032 and p = .004). Conclusions Compared with two-port VATS, single-port VATS for PSP showed more favorable results in terms of postoperative paresthesia and pain. The single-port procedure may be considered a good alternative to the standard thoracoscopic treatment of PSP. Abbreviations: VATS: Video-assisted thoracic surgery; PSP: primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Polyglycolic acid sheet with fibrin glue technique without pleural abrasion in uniportal VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BackgroundUniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) has demonstrated acceptable surgical outcomes while being less invasive than other surgical techniques. Fibrin glue-covered absorbable mesh has been applied to reinforce resected regions to prevent recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of this technique without pleural abrasion in uniportal VATS for PSP.MethodsBetween July 2012 and May 2017, 54 consecutive patients with PSP underwent uniportal VATS by a combination technique using a polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet and fibrin glue without mechanical pleural abrasion. A bilateral approach was performed in five additional patients; thus, postoperative surgical outcomes of a total of 59 cases were analyzed. For subgroup analysis, we first divided the patients into a group of PGA sheet coverage, followed by additional fibrin glue application (n=36, Group A) and a group of fibrin glue injection prior to PGA sheet coverage (n=23, Group B). We reviewed the data and compared surgical outcomes to evaluate the efficacy of the application techniques.ResultsThere was a total 59 cases (43 males) with a median age of 18.0 years (range, 12–50 years). Demographic data revealed no differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference in operation time (41.8±10.1 vs. 41.3±8.8 minutes, P=0.821), length of hospital stay (4.1±1.3 vs. 3.8±1.1 days, P=0.411), or chest tube in-dwelling time (2.6±0.9 vs. 2.2±0.7 days, P=0.078) in the additional glue application and glue injection groups. Recurrence rates revealed no significant difference [2/36 (5.5%) vs. 1/23 (4.3%), P=0.837] between the two groups. There were neither conversions to multi-port VATS nor perioperative complications during a median follow-up period of 21.5 months.ConclusionsThe combination method of the absorbable PGA sheet with fibrin glue established satisfactory outcomes without increasing morbidities, regardless of application technique. This simple technique is an effective procedure that does not require mechanical pleural abrasion or pleurodesis to prevent postoperative recurrences when conducting uniportal VATS for PSP.

Mid-Term Outcomes of Single-Port versus Conventional Three-Port Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

BackgroundThe benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) have been demonstrated over the past decades; as a result, VATS has become the gold-standard treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Due to improvements in surgical technique and equipment, single-port VATS (s-VATS) is emerging as an alternative approach to conventional three-port VATS (t-VATS). The aim of this study was to evaluate s-VATS as a treatment for PSP by comparing operative outcomes and recurrence rates for s-VATS versus t-VATS.MethodsBetween March 2013 and December 2015, VATS for PSP was performed in 146 patients in Kyungpook National University Hospital. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients.ResultsThe mean follow-up duration was 13.4±6.5 months in the s-VATS group and 28.7±3.9 months in the t-VATS group. Operative time (p<0.001), the number of staples used for the operation (p=0.001), duration of drainage (p=0.001), and duration of the postoperative stay (p<0.001) were significantly lower in the s-VATS group than in the t-VATS group. There was no difference in the overall recurrence-free survival rate between the s-VATS and t-VATS groups.ConclusionNo significant differences in operative outcomes and recurrence rates were found between s-VATS and t-VATS for PSP. Therefore, we cautiously suggest that s-VATS may be an appropriate alternative to t-VATS in the treatment of PSP.

A single institution experience using the LigaSure vessel sealing system in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

This study sought to report our 6-year experience with the LigaSure vessel sealing system (LVSS) in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. A series of 180 consecutive patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were operated on in our institution from May 2005 to December 2010. Intraoperatively, large lesions (bullae or blebs) with a diameter more than 2 cm were resected by staplers, and the residual lesions were treated by LVSS. LVSS was also used to ablate the apical area when no lesions were found. Conventional apical pleural abrasion was done in all cases. All patients were successfully treated using VATS with minimal perioperative bleeding. The mean operating time was 76 minutes (range, 43–160 minutes) for single-side procedures and 169 minutes (range, 135–195 minutes) for bilateral procedures, the mean number of applied staples was 1.93 per patient (range, 0–8 days), the duration of drainage was 3.8 days (range, 2–15 days), and the duration of hospital stay was 5.8 days (range, 3–16 days). Postoperative complications included persistent air leak (> 5 days) in 11 cases (6.1%) and residual pneumothorax in 6 (3.3%). None required reoperation. The mean duration of follow-up was 57 months (range, 24–105 months). Recurrence was seen in three cases (1.7%), and all underwent another operation thereafter. None of the lesions in the relapse cases received ablation with LVSS in the first operation. LVSS can optimize VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax and reduces the use of single-use staples. The method is safe, easy to use, and cost-effective and produces satisfactory results.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of primary pneumothorax: talc pleurodesis or pleural abrasion? Retrospective multicentre study

In the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) the latest guidelines recommend video-assisted thoracoscopy, but do not specify the best technique for performing pleurodesis. Indeed, there are no clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of talc pleurodesis, mechanical pleurodesis and pleurectomy. Our objective was to compare outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for primary pneumothorax with the talc procedure or with pleural abrasion using dry gauze. Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for PSP in two hospitals were retrospectively recruited between 2007 and 2008, and followed-up until December 2010. The variables measured to compare the outcomes were: recurrence, complications, and mortality, as well as the duration of air leaks and of drainage and the length of postoperative hospital stay (in days). Statistical analysis: The two groups were compared using the Chi square test for qualitative variables and nonparametric tests for continuous variables. A total of 106 interventions were carried out in 104 patients (74 in group A: pleural abrasion with dry gauze; 32 in group B: chemical pleurodesis with talc), with a mean age of 28 years (median 25) and 85.6% were male. Complications were observed in nine patients (8.5%) and there were no deaths in the 30 days after surgery; there were, however, four cases of recurrence (3.8%). The mean air leak duration was 0.78 days (median 0), the mean drainage duration 1.95 days (median 1) and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay 2.68 days (median 2). In 74 cases (69.8%), mechanical pleurodesis was performed, while 32 cases were treated with talc (30.2%). Comparing the two groups, we did not find statistically significant differences in recurrence (4.1% vs 3.1%, P=0.82), complications (6.8% vs 12.5%, P=0.45) or mortality (no cases of death). On the other hand, the mean postoperative hospital stay was lower in the mechanical pleurodesis group than in the talc group (2.2 vs 3.8 days, P=0.005). Video-assisted surgery in the treatment of PSP is a safe technique. In the mechanical pleurodesis group, we observed the same rate of recurrence, half the number of complications and a shorter hospital stay. We consider it necessary that well-designed multicentre clinical trials be carried out to compare these techniques and determine which produces the best outcomes, providing stronger scientific evidence given that the data available to date are not conclusive.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of primary pneumothorax: talc pleurodesis or pleural abrasion? Retrospective multicentre study

In the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) the latest guidelines recommend video-assisted thoracoscopy, but do not specify the best technique for performing pleurodesis. Indeed, there are no clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of talc pleurodesis, mechanical pleurodesis and pleurectomy. Our objective was to compare outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for primary pneumothorax with the talc procedure or with pleural abrasion using dry gauze. Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for PSP in two hospitals were retrospectively recruited between 2007 and 2008, and followed-up until December 2010. The variables measured to compare the outcomes were: recurrence, complications, and mortality, as well as the duration of air leaks and of drainage and the length of postoperative hospital stay (in days). Statistical analysis: The two groups were compared using the Chi square test for qualitative variables and nonparametric tests for continuous variables. A total of 106 interventions were carried out in 104 patients (74 in group A: pleural abrasion with dry gauze; 32 in group B: chemical pleurodesis with talc), with a mean age of 28 years (median 25) and 85.6% were male. Complications were observed in nine patients (8.5%) and there were no deaths in the 30 days after surgery; there were, however, four cases of recurrence (3.8%). The mean air leak duration was 0.78 days (median 0), the mean drainage duration 1.95 days (median 1) and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay 2.68 days (median 2). In 74 cases (69.8%), mechanical pleurodesis was performed, while 32 cases were treated with talc (30.2%). Comparing the two groups, we did not find statistically significant differences in recurrence (4.1% vs 3.1%, P=0.82), complications (6.8% vs 12.5%, P=0.45) or mortality (no cases of death). On the other hand, the mean postoperative hospital stay was lower in the mechanical pleurodesis group than in the talc group (2.2 vs 3.8 days, P=0.005). Video-assisted surgery in the treatment of PSP is a safe technique. In the mechanical pleurodesis group, we observed the same rate of recurrence, half the number of complications and a shorter hospital stay. We consider it necessary that well-designed multicentre clinical trials be carried out to compare these techniques and determine which produces the best outcomes, providing stronger scientific evidence given that the data available to date are not conclusive.

New Electroablation Technique Following the First-Line Stapling Method for Thoracoscopic Treatment of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

A new tip for the electroablation of pneumocysts was examined clinically as a second-line method for stapled resection of pneumocysts during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). A trial to assess feasibility. National referral hospitals. One hundred seven patients were studied, of whom 99 patients were eligible for the study (85 men and 14 women; age range, 15 to 69 years; median age, 23 years), who had undergone VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax between July 1996 and June 1998. Apical pneumocysts were resected employing staplers, and residual pneumocysts, if present, were electroablated employing a new tip for the electrosurgery unit (ball shape, 8 mm in diameter, and made of stainless steel). Thirty-three patients (33%) underwent electroablation only for small (< 2 cm in diameter) pneumocysts (group S), and 11 patients (11%) underwent electroablation for large (>/= 2 cm in diameter) pneumocysts (group L). The remaining 55 patients (56%) did not undergo electroablation because there were no residual pneumocysts (group N). There were no complications during surgery. The duration of the operation was significantly shorter (about 20 min on average) for group N, but there was no significant difference in the amount of blood loss, the number of applied staples, the duration of drainage, and the duration of hospital stay. Group S achieved a 100% relapse-free rate (33 of 33 patients), group L achieved a 64% relapse-free rate (7 of 11 patients), and group N achieved an 89% relapse-free rate (49 of 55 patients) [group S vs group N, p = 0.08; group L vs group N, p = 0.001; and group S vs group L, p = 0.002]. Electroablation with the M-tip is feasible as a second-line method for the treatment of small pneumocysts following the stapling technique during VATS.