Thoracoscopic surgery of spontaneous pneumothorax with endoscopic GIA stapler

Abstract

We have treated thoracoscopically 7 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax using a multifire ENDO GIA 30 stapler device. The resected blebs ranged from 5 to 50 mm in diameter. There were 5 men and 2 women aged 17 to 44 years. Since the postoperative pain was minimal, analgesics were not used. The chest drain was removed within 24 hr after operation, and there were no postoperative complications related to thoracoscopic surgery. There was very little blood loss. The postoperative hospital stay was about 4 days. As a safe and cosmetic procedure, thoracoscopic surgery with the endoscopic GIA stapler should be considered the treatment of choice for spontaneous pneumothorax.