Recurrence Rates After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with pulmonary apical wedge resection is the mainstay procedure performed for spontaneous pneumothorax (sPTX). However, there is variability in adjunctive techniques, including pleurectomy or mechanical pleurodesis, used to prevent recurrences. The objectives of this study were to determine sPTX recurrence rates after initial VATS and to compare the efficacy of adjunct pleurectomy versus mechanical pleurodesis. Methods: Patients 11-21 years old who experienced sPTX and underwent initial VATS from December 2011 to December 2020 were identified at a single institution. Descriptive analyses and statistical tests were performed to identify factors associated with ipsilateral sPTX recurrence after surgery. Results: Fifty-six patients (48 males) underwent 58 VATS. The majority of patients were white (82.1%), male (85.7%), and nonsmokers (78.6%). Pleurectomy was performed in 27 (46.5%) cases, mechanical pleurodesis in 25 (43.1%), and pleurectomy with mechanical pleurodesis in 6 (10.3%). Overall, 15 patients (25.9%) experienced a postoperative recurrence, of which 8 (13.8%) required intervention. Recurrences occurred between 7 and 800 days after the index procedure. There was no significant difference in rates of overall recurrence between pleurectomy, mechanical pleurodesis, and pleurectomy with mechanical pleurodesis [7/27 (25.9%); 7/25 (28.0%); 1/6 (16.7%): P = .99] or recurrences requiring intervention between the three adjunctive techniques (5/27; 3/25; 0/6: P = .66). Conclusion: Over 25% of patients experience recurrence of sPTX after VATS. Recurrence rates were similar whether pleurectomy, mechanical pleurodesis, or pleurectomy with pleurodesis was performed. Further multi-institutional and prospective studies are needed to establish the optimal strategy to limit recurrence rates for pediatric patients with sPTX.