THORACOSCOPIC TREATMENT OF RECURRENT OR P ERSISTANT SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX

The video shows an endoscopic modification of the established conventi onal surgical therapy of recurrent or persistant spontaneous pneumotho rax: The indications and endoscopic techniques of parietal pleurectomy , ligature of leaking bullae and wedge resection are demonstrated. Our first experience on 50 patients indicates, that minimal postoperative pain and a relatively short hospital stay (mean 3.6 days postop.) are the advantages of minimal invasive techniques also in thoracic surger y. Long-term results are however still lacking.