Parietal pleurectomy for recurrent pneumothorax

New aspects in the diagnosis and treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

This paper provides a recapitulation of the position of the British Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians based on a review of the literature concerning the current methods of diagnosing and treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). The previously developed guidelines were re-evaluated in 2015 by a task force of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). They are intended to be used by surgeons as well as emergency and pulmonary ward physicians, and they apply largely to emergency procedures. In recent years, the effectiveness of minimally invasive methods (punctures, drainage) in combination with talc pleurodesis for the initial therapy of PSP has been recognized. The efficacy of thoracoscopy (VATS) for the treatment of this disease has been proven by the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques in thoracic surgery. This paper also discusses the efficacy of the surgical methods available.

Thoracoscopic loop ligation of parenchymal blebs and bullae: is it effective and safe?

Surgeons who have gained experience and confidence with video-assisted thoracic surgery are now routinely applying the minimally invasive approach to treat patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Although the endoscopic stapling device may be a preferred method for resection of parenchymal blebs or bullae, the stapling device is not inexpensive. In an effort to contain costs since we started performing the video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure in chest surgical diseases, we have used a self-made endoscopic loop as an alternative method. It has assisted us in performing bulla ablation in a cost-effective manner. Over a 4-year period (1992 to 1996), we assessed the efficacy of ligating parenchymal blebs and bullae with a self-made endoscopic loop by video-assisted techniques. A total of 263 ligations were performed in 250 patients. Surgical indications included recurrence (n = 146), bilaterality of the disease (n = 13), hemopneumothorax (n = 7), radiologically demonstrated large bulla (n = 9), persistent air leak (n = 52), and nonexpansion of the lung (n = 23). There were no operative deaths. Early postoperative complications included a dislodged endoscopic loop necessitating reexploration in one patient and postoperative minor wound infections in 13. The average postoperative hospitalization was 4.5 days. Two hundred seventeen patients (86.8% of all patients) were followed up for a median of 28 months (1 to 46 months) after the operation. There have been no recurrences to date. Our results showed that thoracoscopic loop ligation is safe and effective in managing blebs and parenchymal bullae, with a lower cost, fewer complications, and a lower recurrence rate than provided by standard surgical techniques. On the basis of our results, we advocate the use of the self-made endoscopic loop for ligation of parenchymal blebs and bulla in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax to achieve a truly cost-effective and minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedure.

Thoracoscopic bullectomy and tetracycline pleurodesis for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax

Initial experience of thoracoscopic bullectomy and tetracycline pleurodesis for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is reported. Thirty-three out of 49 patients admitted with spontaneous pneumothorax were suitable for treatment with this minimally invasive method. This series demonstrates that this surgical management offers early discharge and return to normal activities with excellent medium-term results, despite the three early failures. It is felt that with increased experience in thoracoscopy and improved selection of patients, thoracoscopic bullectomy and pleurodesis will become the treatment of choice for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Thoracoscopic resection of parenchymal blebs in spontaneous pneumothorax. Indications, operative management and results

The success rate of thoracoscopic resection of parenchymal blebs in spontaneous pneumothorax was evaluated after 54 thoracoscopies (cases) in 52 patients. Switch to open thoracotomy was necessitated by interpleural adhesions or large bullae in five cases, while 49 were treated thoracoscopically. The median duration of the operation was 75 (25-240) min, and the postoperative hospital stay was 7 (3-25) days. Early postoperative complications were haemothorax and recurrence of pneumothorax, each in one case, treated with thoracoscopy and chest drain, respectively. Forty-six patients were followed up for a median of 11 (1-32) months. there were two recurrences (at 4 and 6 months). One was successfully treated with thoracoscopy and the other with thoracotomy. Only five patients complained of slight sensitivity in the scar area, caused by weather changes. Thoracoscopic bleb resection is an effective alternative to thoracotomy, with low rates of complications and recurrent pneumothorax.

Resection of pulmonary blebs and pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax

Over a 20-year period, 83 patients underwent operative pleurodesis with resection of pulmonary blebs for spontaneous pneumothorax. Follow-up for all patients was between 5 and 25 years, with a mean of 9.1 years. There were five early (5.6 percent) and three late recurrences (3.6 percent). There were no deaths or need for blood transfusion in our series. There was a low incidence of postoperative fever (n = 8), minor wound infection (n = 6), air leak (n = 6), or pneumonia (n = 2). The low morbidity and recurrence rates compare favorably with published series of alternative treatment options for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Functional results of surgery for bullous emphysema

Forty-six patients with bullous emphysema were operated on. Respiratory function was investigated before and immediately after surgery, and during the follow-up to five years. The larger the volume of the bullae, the less disturbances of lung function caused by their removal immediately after operation. Respiratory function improved significantly during the long-term follow-up after removal of the bullae that were more than one third of the hemithorax, but it did not change when the bullae were less than one third of the hemithorax and deteriorated after pulmonary resection for the bullae associated with long-term pneumonia. No new bullae were revealed roentgenographically at five years postoperatively.

[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax]

Experience with 300 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax in 209 patients is reported. The treatment results of two time periods 1980-1983 (A) and 1985-1987 (B) are compared. During the second period the diagnostic work-up was much more extensive and included pleurography, CT-scan and thoracoscopy. This resulted in a more differentiated therapy and a reduction in the recurrence rate from 41% to 22%. Among the different modes of treatment chest-tube drainage alone had the worst results with a 44% rate of early and late recurrence. Better results were obtained with pleurodesis using fibrin adhesive either through a pleural catheter (24%) or thoracoscopically (13%). Operative treatment had the lowest recurrence rate (4%). In the primary treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax chest-tube drainage had a recurrence rate of 33% and catheter-pleurodesis with fibrin adhesive of 18% while no relapse could be observed in the group treated by thoracoscopy or operation. In the treatment of recurrent pneumothorax chest-tube drainage alone is unsuitable because of a failure rate of 64%. Catheter pleurodesis also had a high rate of recurrence (30%). The best results were again obtained by thoracoscopic (19%) and operative treatment (4%). On the basis of the described experience an individualized approach to the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is recommended.

Surgical experience in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax, 1972-82

In the past 11 years 233 patients have undergone 241 parietal pleurectomies for either recurrence of their spontaneous pneumothorax or failure to respond adequately to management by tube drainage. Major complications occurred in 3.7% of cases, with transaxillary apical pleurectomy engendering significantly fewer complications than full pleurectomy through a posterolateral thoracotomy. The significantly larger number of minor complications, however, in patients undergoing full pleurectomy was largely due to the larger number of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease in this group. On the basis of our experience we advocate the use of transaxillary apical pleurectomy for the younger age group with recurrent pneumothoraces and a full pleurectomy in the older age group, who frequently present because of failure to respond satisfactorily to tube drainage during their initial pneumothorax and often have lung disease secondary to chronic obstructive lung disease which is not confined to the apex of the upper lobe.

The surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax by parietal pleurectomy. Long-term results with special reference to pulmonary function studies

A series of 125 patients with recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax were treated at the Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, North Middlesex Hospital, London, between 1972 and 1978. These patients received surgical treatment by parietal pleurectomy with no significant complications. The 2-8 years of follow-up has shown no recurrence. The postoperative pulmonary function tests have proved that there is no significant impairment of the mechanical efficiency of respiration. This series indicates that pleurectomy is a safe and reliable procedure and gives excellent results.

Tetracycline pleurodesis during active pulmonary-pleural air leak for prevention of recurrent pneumothorax

Pleurodesis with a sclerosing agent was attempted in an animal model in which a pneumothorax with an active air leak was created. Adult rabbits had a small left thoracotomy and then a 1-cm controlled cut in the lung surface. Animals served as control, or tetracycline was administered. The chest tube was removed after the air leak stopped. Animals were sacrificed after 20 days. Group A was control rabbits (6); group B had powdered tetracycline placed at thoracotomy; group C, tetracycline solution, 2 ml/kg, 25 mg/ml (4); and group D, tetracycline solution, 1 ml/kg, 50 mg/ml (10). Control rabbits showed few adhesions, and the pleura appeared to be normal by histologic examination. There was a spectrum of results with tetracycline, but with the concentrated tetracycline solution (group D) histologic examination showed uniform pleurodesis and thickening of the pleura. In group D it took no longer for the pulmonary air leak to seal than with the group A (control) rabbits. We conclude that concentrated tetracycline solution is effective in causing pleurodesis even when an active air leak is present. The lung, however, must be kept expanded so that symphysis can occur between the visceral and parietal pleura.

Excision of bullae without pleurectomy in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax

In a retrospective review of 294 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (398 episodes), 45 patients came to surgical treatment. The period of the study was 7 1/2 years, with a mean follow-up of 3 years in which there was no recurrence of pneumothorax after surgery. Operation consisted of simple excision of bullous lesions, usually located at the apex of the upper lobe, without pleurectomy. This simplified surgical approach has met with excellent result, indicating that pleurectomy is unnecessary in the treatment of this disease.

Transaxillary pleurectomy for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax

In the 16-year period 1962 to 1978, 409 transaxillary apical pleurectomies were carried out for definitive treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in 362 patients. Surgical indications included recurrence (336), bilaterality of the disease (23), persistent air leak (22), and nonexpansion of the lung (10). There was 1 operative death (unsuspected brain tumor), and 3 patients required reexploration for clot removal. The average postoperative period of hospitalization was 6 days. Three hundred ten patients (86% of all patients) were contacted for follow-up 1 to 16 years after operation (average, 4.5 years). There were two documented episodes of recurrent ipsilateral pneumothorax (0.6%). Postoperative pulmonary function studies were done in 40 patients (unilateral, 29; bilateral, 11) 2 to 5 years after operation. The results indicate that there are no significant abnormalities compared with predicted values.

Pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax. Experience with intrapleural olive oil in high risk patients

Spontaneous pneumothorax is rare among Nigerians, but our experience with olive oil confirms its advantages as a good agent for chemical pleurodesis. Clinical and supporting experimental data from rabbits are presented. In high risk patients with poor respiratory reserve, including some who have bronchopleural fistulas and are unfit for surgery, chemical pleurodesis offers an alternative method for maintaining reexpansion and preventing recurrence.

Current status of parietal pleurectomy in recurrent pneumothorax

Parietal pleurectomy was devised as definitive treatment in a series of 50 patients with persistent or recurrent pneumothorax. There have been no significant complications; 3-5 year follow-up has shown no recurrence, indicating that pleurectomy is a safe and reliable procedure and preferred to chemically or mechanically induced pleuritis because it entails fewer complications and shortens hospitalization.

Recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax after radiation therapy to the thorax

Two patients who received radiation therapy to the thorax and who developed recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces are presented. Patients with recurrent pneumothoraces secondary to radiation have not been described previously. Pleural changes secondary to radiation may contribute significantly to the complicated clinical course of these patients.