THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN WITH SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX

Abstract

A 32-year-old woman developed spontaneous pneumothorax at the 12th gestational week. After a chest tube drainage, pleurodesis using autologous blood was performed twice. Once she was discharged from the hospital with good results, but soon she had recurrence of pneumothorax. At the 19th gestational week, a thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. Thereafter, she had no recurrence of pneumothorax, and her spontaneous delivery at the 39th gestational week was uneventful.
Operation for pregnant women should be performed in the second trimester, the 4~8th gestational months. In performing thoracoscopic surgery, special attention should be paid not to cause recurrence in early postoperative days.