[The role of thoracoscopy in paediatric spontaneous pneumothorax]

Praxis (Bern 1994). 2008 Sep 24;97(19):1033-6. doi: 10.1024/1661-8157.97.19.1033.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax in children is an emergency. A rapid and structured treatment is necessary. Indicating clinical signs are dyspnoea with unilateral reduced breath sounds and hypersonic percussion note. Chest x-ray confirms diagnosis. CT scan shows detailed information's of pathological changes in lung tissue and offers important considerations for the therapy. Today video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) takes a central role in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Thoracoscopy completes diagnosis detecting the pathologies, which were missed in imaging procedures. Definitive surgical treatment is performed simultaneously in the same anaesthesia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / complications
  • Chest Tubes
  • Child
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Pneumothorax / diagnosis
  • Pneumothorax / etiology*
  • Pneumothorax / surgery
  • Risk Factors
  • Surgical Staplers
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed