Subxiphoid vs transthoracic approach thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND: The transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery is currently accepted as a favorable technique for bullectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Recently, uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery has been proposed as an alternative to conventional transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: From November 2014 and January 2016, 127 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Among these patients, 32 were treated using subxipoid approach, whereas 95 were treated using transthoracic approach. Propensity score case-matching was performed to adjust for patient backgrounds. RESULTS: The two groups of 32 pairs were well matched for baseline and surgical characteristics. Patients who underwent subxipoid approach had a longer operation time than transthoracic approach (p = 0.004). The subgroup analysis showed that the operation time for bilateral bullectomy was similar between the groups (p = 0.986). There were no differences between the groups with respect to the hospital stay after surgery, chest drain duration, the number of the staples used for the operation, and postoperative recurrence. However, the provoked arrhythmias events during surgery were significantly higher in the subxiphoid approach group (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Although transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax is well established, uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery may be a potentially alternative way to management of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax in selected cases, especially for bilateral surgery, but causions should be taked.