THORACOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX ALLOWS PROMPT RETURN TO AVIATION DUTIES

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax, a disease of young adults, is occasi onally encountered in aviation personnel. Surgical intervention is oft en recommended after the first episode for those patients involved in aviation or diving duties due to the increased risk of recurrence seco ndary to barotrauma. Thoracoscopic surgery can be used effectively to resect the causative blebs or bullae and to perform a mechanical pleur odeisis. When compared to the traditional open technique, post-operati ve recovery time is less with this approach and allows more rapid retu rn to aviation duties. Thoracoscopic surgery should be considered in a ll cases of spontaneous pneumothorax encountered in aviators.