Videothoracoscopic operations for bullous lung disease.

Recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothoraces can be treated easily by videothoracoscopic techniques. Although long-term follow-up is still lacking, VATS apical blebectomy and apical pleurectomy give excellent short-term results with recurrence rates below 1%. Because the technique is less invasive than open thoracotomy, it is also advantageous for the treatment of patients with pneumothoraces secondary to emphysema. Thoracoscopic treatment of diffuse emphysema remains investigational.