Effects of covering visceral pleura with polyglycolic acid felt guided by polydione suture after thoracoscopic bullectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the safety and efficacy of covering visceral pleura with polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt after thoracoscopic treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Between June 2002 and July 2003, 37 consecutive patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The procedures included resection of bullae and covering visceral pleura with PGA felt. The methods of covering were as follows: 1) ligation of both ends of the staple line using polydioxanone suture (PDS), 2) threading PGA felt with PDS, and 3) advancing PGA felt, guided by PDS on the visceral pleura. The mean operation duration was 60.6 min. The mean durations of postoperative chest drainage and postoperative hospital stay were 1.1 days and 1.6 days, respectively. There was no postoperative mortality or morbidity. No recurrent pneumothorax was noted at a mean follow-up of 12 months. Covering with PGA felt is a safe and convenient procedure that may improve the outcome and reduce the rate of recurrence after thoracoscopic treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.