Title

Catamenial pneumothorax in a young patient diagnosed by thoracoscopic surgery; report of a case. [Japanese]

Authors

Ishikawa N. Takizawa M. Yachi T. Hiranuma C. Sato H.

Institution

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.

Source

Kyobu Geka - Japanese Journal of Thoracic Surgery. 56(4):336-9, 2003 Apr.

Abstract

A 16-year-old woman presented with chest pain on 2 days before the onset of menstruation and was referred to our hospital because of a pneumothorax. She was diagnosed as spontaneous penumothorax and surgical treatment was performed. Thoracoscopy revealed the presence of multiple blueberry spots near central tendon of the diaphragm and little pleural effusion. No other abnormal lesions were found in the left pleural cavity and left lung. Thoracoscopic biopsy and coagulation of the lesions were successfully performed. Histological findings of biopsied specimen did not contradict as an endometoriosis and catamenial pneumothorax was diagnosed. CA 125 level of the pleural effusion had increased to 99.2 U/ml. Because she was young, she did not receive a systemic hormonal therapy.

 

Authors

Chen JS. Hsu HH. Kuo SW. Tsai PR. Chen RJ. Lee JM. Lee YC.

Institution

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

Title

Needlescopic versus conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a comparative study.

Source

Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 75(4):1080-5, 2003 Apr.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax by needlescopic video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has rarely been attempted and no comparison study with conventional VATS is available. In this study, we compared the clinical outcomes of needlescopic VATS with conventional VATS in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The technique and our experience with needlescopic VATS are reported. METHODS: Between April 2001 and April 2002, a total of 63 patients with recurrent, persistent, or contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax were recruited for this study. Operative procedures included needlescopic VATS in 28 patients and conventional VATS in 35 patients. We used a modified operative technique to improve the poor and narrower vision of the needle-videothoracoscope. RESULTS: There was no mortality or major complications in either of the two groups. Needlescopic and conventional VATS groups had comparable operation times, postoperative pain, requested doses of meperidine hydrochloride, durations of postoperative chest drainage, and length of hospital stay. After a mean follow-up of 8 months, the needlescopic VATS group had less residual neuralgia (p = 0.021) and better wound satisfaction (p = 0.043) than the conventional VATS group. Ipsilateral recurrence of pneumothorax occurred in 1 patient (3.6%) in the needlescopic VATS group but not in any patients in the conventional VATS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience showed that needlescopic VATS is technically feasible and can be a satisfactory alternative to conventional VATS in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Limited vision of needlescopic VATS can be improved by the modified technique we used. However, conversion to conventional VATS or minithoracotomy is suggested in selected patients to prevent early recurrence

 

 

 

Title

Catamenial pneumothorax: retrospective study of surgical treatment.

Authors

Bagan P. Le Pimpec Barthes F. Assouad J. Souilamas R. Riquet M.

Institution

Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.

 

Source

Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 75(2):378-81; discusssion 381, 2003 Feb.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare entity characterized by recurrent accumulation of air in the thoracic space during menstruation. Catamenial pneumothorax is also associated with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. The aim of this study was to discuss the etiology and to determine the optimal surgical treatment of this entity. METHODS: From December 1991 to September 2000, 10 patients with catamenial pneumothorax were treated at our institution. Median age at time of operation was 37 years (range, 21 to 44 years). We retrospectively evaluated the pathologic findings, the operation performed, and the results in all patients. The mean follow-up was 55.7 months. RESULTS: Pleurodesis alone was performed in 5 patients and an associated diaphragmatic procedure was performed in 5 patients. In 5 patients, no diaphragmatic anomaly was discovered: 3 experienced one or more recurrences and all still suffer from chronic catamenial chest pain. Hormonal therapy temporarily improved outcome for 6 months in 2 patients. On the contrary, in 5 patients surgical pleurodesis was associated with the repair of diaphragmatic defects (simple closure or coverage by a polyglactin mesh): these patients experienced no recurrence (n = 0/5, p = 0.0016) and no subsequent catamenial chest pain. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative outcome is influenced by the diagnosis of diaphragmatic defects with or without endometriosis. Surgical treatment should be accomplished during menstruation for an optimal visualization of pleurodiaphragmatic endometriosis. Because diaphragmatic lesion is frequent and may be occult, we propose the systematic coverage of the diaphragmatic surface by a polyglactin mesh to prevent catamenial pneumothorax recurrence even when the diaphragm appears normal.