Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for the First Episode of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a videothoracoscopic surgical (VATS) approach as the “first-line” treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). One hundred sixteen patients who were diagnosed with pneumothorax and underwent surgery with VATS technique between January 2016 and January 2018 were included in the study. We observed 60 patients with a first episode of PSP and 56 patients with recurrent PSP who had undergone prior chest tube application. Surgery was done in the first 24 h after hospital admission. Duration of hospital stay and pneumothorax recurrence rate were recorded. Pain level was assessed on the fifteenth day after surgery using the numerical rating scale (NRS). Recurrent pneumothorax patients who were treated with chest tube application after their first episode were asked to evaluate their preference for surgery over chest tube via a questionnaire. Intraoperative bleb/bullous structures were detected in 102 (87.93%) of 116 patients. In the questionnaire of 56 patients with recurrent pneumothorax who had previously undergone chest tube, 44 (78.6%) stated that they would immediately accept operation instead of the chest tube, if recommended. The length of hospitalization was significantly less in patients who underwent surgery in the first episode. There was no statistical difference between pain scores. Employing VATS as the first-line treatment for PSP provides benefits of early return to normal daily life, better clinical satisfaction, and psychosocial outcomes.