1996 Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 95-97
Spontaneous pneumothorax occurred in 106 patients, who were treated with 117 operations 41 thoracotomies, 63 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries <VATS>, and 13 VATS followed by thoracotomies. A comparison of the three treatments showed that the median operating time, duration of chest tube drainage and length of postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter with VATS than with the other two operations. Intraoperative blood loss with VATS was significantly less than that with the other operations. In conclusion, VATS significantly decreased operating time, blood loss, duration of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospital stay.
