Nonintubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Using Local Anesthesia for Catamenial Pneumothorax

This report describes a case of successful catamenial pneumothorax repair using local anesthesia and sedation. A female patient presented with spontaneous pneumo-thorax with a persistent air leak. Preoperative computed tomography did not reveal any abnormality. Surgery was planned for exploration. In the intraoperative field, a pore was incidentally found in the diaphragm. Therefore, an apical lung wedge procedure was performed; the pore was resected at the diaphragm and covered with poly-propylene mesh. The operation was performed using anesthesia with intravenous agents and an oxygen mask with a reservoir bag without endotracheal intubation. The patient was discharged 4 days postoperatively and was doing well at 1-month follow-up. (C) 2021 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons