Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate a recently developed 2-mm video-thoracoscope and instruments for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Between January 1998 and June 1999, 62 consecutive patients were studied. The 2-mm video-thoracoscope was used in 30 patients (group 1), and a conventional video-thoracoscope was used in 32 (group 2). There was no significant difference in operation time, number of staples, or duration of chest tube drainage between the 2 groups. The need for parenteral analgesic (ketoprofen) postoperatively was less in group 1 (56%) than group 2 (72%), but this was not statistically significant. During a mean follow-up of 15 months, there was 1 readmission for recurrent pneumothorax in each group. It was concluded that the 2-mm video-thoracoscope and instruments can be used successfully to manage primary spontaneous pneumothorax with cosmetically excellent results.
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