[One-port video-assisted thoracic surgery for pneumothorax using mini loop retractor].

We successfully performed 1-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax using Mini Loop Retractor II in 137 (39%) of 351 patients from March 2005 to May 2009 at Tokyo Teishin Hospital. This retractor is accessible to the thoracic cavity by simple skin puncture. It can hold and retract the lung freely like forceps. We made a 2 cm incision and inserted a 5 mm thoracoscope. We held the affected lung by the retractor and performed wedge resection by endoscopic staplers through skin incision. The operation time was 34.8 +/- 10.9 minutes and the blood loss was trace level in all cases. The duration of chest drainage was 1.2 +/- 0.8 days and the postoperative hospital stay was 2.8 +/- 1.2 days. There was no major complications. The recurrence of pneumothorax was noted in 17 (12.4%) cases. One-port VATS for pneumothorax using Mini Loop Retractor II can be applied easily and safely to selected patients.