Abstract
Thoracoscopic treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax has been performed mainly with electrocautery ablation technique. But electrocautery has a risk of rupture of blebs. We employed carbon monoxide laser (CO laser: wavelength 5.4m) photocoagulation through thoracoscopy. CO laser light was delivered by a As-S glass fiber with 2-4W laser power at the output end. Nd: YAG laser (wavelength 1.06m) was also used for comparizon. Good contraction of bleb was obtained with non-contact method. Depth of coagulation and carbonization of CO laser was shallower than that of Nd: YAG laser. The risk of rupture by CO laser was small. We conclude that the laser photocoagulation therapy can play an important role in patient with spontaneous pneumothorax, especially CO laser is more useful than Nd: YAG laser.
