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Novel method for bulla detection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax

Department of Surgery (Thoracic Surgery Division), Kyorin University, 20-2, Shinkawa 6-chome, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan

Received 18 December 2007; received in revised form 26 March 2008; accepted 31 March 2008.

^_* Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 422 47 5511; fax: +81 422 44 3576. (Email: rkawachi{at}kpe.biglobe.ne.jp).

Detection of bullae is usually performed during lung inflation with an inspiratory hold in collaboration with anesthetists (conventional method). One cause leading to recurrent pneumothorax is failure to detect the position and extent of bullae under the conventional method. We herein present a novel method for detecting bullae under negative intrathoracic pressure, enabling exploration in the narrow cupola space without lung inflation.

Key Words: Device • Emphysema/bullae • Pleural space • Pneumothorax • Thoracoscopy/VATS