Low-cost of uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

OBJECTIVE: Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery is a favorable treatment choice for primary spontaneous pneumothorax, and manual ligation of the bleb during thoracoscopic surgery appears to offer better economic results. In this study we undertook ligation of the bleb by hand under uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: Between June 2015 and December 2016, a series of 26 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax underwent hand ligation of blebs using the technology of uniportal thoracoscopy, followed by pleural abrasion as necessary. RESULTS: No case was converted to two- or three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery during the operation. No patients experienced prolonged (>5 days) air leakage. No other complication was recorded. No recurrence of pneumothorax was encountered during 29–47 months follow-up. Compared with the group treated by bullectomy using stapler, we found a significant reduction in medical costs in the group with bleb ligation. CONCLUSIONS: Ligation of the bleb by hand under uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax is a safe and offers better economic results, which is applicable for low income family.