Video-assisted thoracoscopy versus thoracotomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: Video-assisted thoracic surgery has been evaluated to replace thoracotomy for recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax. This study aimed to compare the clinical results and long-term follow-up of both procedures in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods: In a prospective comparison, all 60 patients aged 14-57 years with recurrent or persistent primary spontaneous pneumothorax seen at the Chest Diseases Hospital in Kuwait were randomly allocated to treatment by video-assisted surgery or thoracotomy. Subsequently various factors were analysed and compared in both groups, and the follow-up of both procedures was 3 years. Results: The mean and standard deviation (SD) operating time was longer in the thoracotomy group (95.3 +/- 16.4 min) than in those undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopy (77.5 +/- 13.7 min; p < 0.0001). The mean +/- SD amount of analgesics (Demerol) used in the first 12 h postoperatively was 67.16 +/- 27.1 mg in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group and 148.3 +/- 24.5 mg in the thoracotomy group (p < 0.0001). The mean 24-hour chest tube drainage was less in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group than in the thoracotomy group (82 vs. 347.1 ml, p < 0.0001). The mean duration of intercostal chest tube was 4.1 days in the thoracoscopy group and 5 days in the thoracotomy group (p = 0.18). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the thoracoscopy group than in the thoracotomy group (6.5 vs. 10.7 days; p < 0.0001). After a follow-up of 3 years, the number of recurrences was 3 in the thoracoscopy group and none in the thoracotomy group. Conclusion: Video-assisted thoracoscopy has many clinical advantages over thoracotomy for recurrent or persistent primary spontaneous pneumothorax; but it results in a higher recurrence rate. The future role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in this disease remains to be determined by a larger study. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.