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Florian T. Gebhard, MD; Horst P. Becker, MD; Heinz Gerngross, MD; Uwe B. Brückner, MD

Arch Surg. 1996;131(10):1079-1082.

Abstract
Objective
To elucidate whether thoracoscopy for surgical therapy of pneumothorax leads to a reduction of inflammatory responses in comparison with standard thoracotomy.

Design
A prospective randomized study.

Patients
Eleven patients (9 men and 2 women; median age, 28 years; range, 21-44 years) were treated by thoracotomy; 10 patients (9 men and 1 woman; median age, 26 years; range, 21-28 years) were managed thoracoscopically. The plasma concentrations of the following were determined: polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase and C-reactive protein as inflammatory parameters and prostanoids (prostacyclin, thromboxane A₂, prostaglandin F₂, prostaglandin M, and prostaglandin E₂) as vasoactive parameters. Blood sampling was performed perioperatively and on day 3 after surgery.

Results
The thoracoscopy group revealed a shorter hospital stay (5 vs 7 days; P<.05) and a significantly reduced need for intravenous pain medication within 48 hours (1 vs 3 requirements; P<.01) vs the thoracotomy group. The release of inflammatory (C-reactive protein, P<.01) and vasoactive (prostacyclin and thromboxane A₂, P<.01) mediators was less during thoracoscopy compared with standard thoracotomy.

Conclusions
The thoracoscopic procedure is less invasive when performing wedge resection of apical blebs. With intracavitary management being equivalent to the conventional technique, the curtailed morbidity after thoracoscopic surgery is considered to be related to the minimal trauma associated with the access to lung tissue and the reduced handling of lung tissue.

Arch Surg. 1996;131:1079-1082

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery, German Military Hospital (Drs Gebhard, Becker, and Gerngross), and the Division of Surgical Research, Surgical Clinic I, University of Ulm (Dr Brückner), Ulm, Germany.

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