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Cold coagulation of blebs and bullae in the spontaneous pneumothorax: a new procedure alternative to endostapler resection

Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Department, Pisa, Italy

Received 13 May 2008; accepted 19 June 2008.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. Tel.: +39 05 0995211; fax: +39 05 0577239. (Email: m.ambrogi{at}med.unipi.it).

Further improvements in the thoracoscopic treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax may reduce the already low invasiveness of the procedure. We have recently experimented with a new device for the coagulation of blebs as an alternative to endostapler resection. Patients with recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax underwent thoracoscopic treatment. Those with blebs or small bullae were treated with a new device, based on coupling saline solution perfusion with radiofrequency energy. Most operations were performed making only two incisions, in some cases under awake epidural anaesthesia. Results are comparable to those of a series of standard thoracoscopic treatments already reported in the literature.

Key Words: Spontaneous pneumothorax • Thoracoscopy • VATS • Surgical treatment • Coagulation • New technology