[Surgical treatment of pneumothorax. Study of a series of 400 cases].

Surgical management is indicated for recurrent forms of pneumothorax as well as for failures of tube drainage. We report a series of 400 patients treated surgically mainly by pleural abrasion over the past 17 years. Statistical analysis of the results identifies two groups: 308 patients under the age of 45 years had surgery mainly for spontaneous idiopathic pneumothorax, where as 92 patients over the age of 45 years had surgery mainly for emphysema. In young patients, the axillary incision was preferred due to the lack of muscular sequelae and to avoid unpleasant aesthetic sequelae. Postoperative complications occurred in 60 patients (15%). The main complication was a residual pneumothorax after drain removal requiring further drainage (10%). A single recurrence occurred (0.25%). Pleural abrasion is a very effective way to treat recurrent forms of pneumothorax.