Anatomical variations of congenital diaphragmatic hernia during thoracoscopic repair :a two Egyptian centers experience

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a major problem in pediatric patients specially neonates with subsequent high morbidity and mortality. Thoracoscopic repair is now being considered the primary choice in management of such patients. The present work aims at evaluating the different anatomical characteristics and variations of congenital diaphragmatic defects during thoracoscopic repair.Methods: Thirty patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia were included in the study. Thoracoscopic inspection of the defect and its anatomical characters was followed by repair. Data were recorded regarding symptoms, radiological findings, anatomic landmarks and variations during the procedure itself.Results: A higher incidence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in infantile male population was documented with a higher incidence of left sided defect (96.7%). Postero-lateraldefects were common (86.7%) compared to lateral defect. Hernial sac was absent in 90% of cases. Most of cases had anterolateral muscular rim (86.7%). Liver herniation occurred in only two cases (6.7%). The majority of patients had moderate organ displacement (70%). Thoracoscopic repair was successful in 90% of cases. Primary repair was done in all cases with no need of synthetic patches.Conclusion: The use of thoracoscope helps in creation of a strict phenotyping system that will enhance the ability to predict the clinical course of diaphragmatic defects and will aid in identifying developmental pathways responsible for the disease

Thoracoscopic Patch Insulation for Phrenic Nerve Stimulation after Permanent Pacemaker Implantation

One of the complications of permanent pacemaker implantation is unintended phrenic nerve stimulation. A 15-year-old boy with a permanent pacemaker presented with chest discomfort due to synchronous chest wall contraction with pacing beats. Even after reprogramming of the pacemaker, diaphragmatic stimulation persisted. Therefore, we performed thoracoscopic phrenic nerve insulation using a Gore-Tex patch to insulate the phrenic nerve from the wire. A minimally invasive approach using a thoracoscope is a feasible option for retractable phrenic nerve stimulation after pacemaker implantation.

Right-sided diaphragmatic rupture in a poly traumatized patient

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) is uncommon, and may be associated with other severe life-threatening injuries after blunt trauma. Recently, we experienced a right-sided TDR patient with other multiple life-threatening injuries. A 59-year-old female inflicted with a right-sided TDR accompanied by herniated liver was treated with thoracoscopic exploration. We successfully managed associated life-threatening injuries such as traumatic brain injury and pelvic bone fractures with bleeding, simultaneously.

The Mid-term Results of Thoracoscopic Closure of Atrial Septal Defects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques including robot-assisted operations have been widely applied in cardiac surgery. The thoracoscopic technique is a favorable MIS option for patients with atrial septal defects (ASDs). Accordingly, we report the mid-term results of thoracoscopic ASD closure without robotic assistance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 66 patients who underwent thoracoscopic ASD closure between June 2006 and July 2014. Mean age was 27±9 years. The mean size of the ASD was 25.9±6.3 mm. Eleven patients (16.7%) had greater than mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The TR pressure gradient was 32.4±8.6 mmHg. RESULTS: Fifty-two (78.8%) patients underwent closure with a pericardial patch and 14 (21.2%) underwent direct suture closure. Concomitant procedures included tricuspid valve repair in 8 patients (12.1%), mitral valve repair in 4 patients (6.1%), and right isthmus block in 1 patient (1.5%). The mean length of the right thoracotomy incision was 4.5±0.9 cm. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 159±43 minutes, and the mean aortic cross clamp time was 79±29 minutes. The mean hospital stay lasted 6.1±2.6 days. There were no early deaths. There were 2 reoperations. One was due to ASD patch detachment and the other was due to residual mitral regurgitation after concomitant mitral valve repair. However, there have been no reoperations since July 2010. There were 2 pneumothoraxes requiring chest tube re-insertion. There was one wound dehiscence in an endoscopic port. The mean follow-up duration was 33±31 months. There were no deaths, residual shunts, or reoperations during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic ASD closure without robotic assistance is feasible, suggesting that this method is a reliable MIS option for patients with ASDs.

Medical Thoracoscopy in Pleural Disease: Experience from a One-Center Study / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure for exploration of the pleural cavity under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. MT has been performed at the Seoul National University Hospital since February 2014. This paper summarizes the findings and outcomes of MT cases at this hospital. METHODS: Patients who had undergone MT were enrolled in the study. MT was performed by pulmonologists, using both rigid and semi-rigid thoracoscopes. During the procedure, patients were under conscious sedation with fentanyl and midazolam. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. RESULTS: From February 2014 to January 2016, 50 procedures (47 cases) were performed (diagnostic MT, 26 cases; therapeutic MT, 24 cases). The median age of patients was 66 years (59–73 years), and 38 patients (80.9%) were male. The median procedure duration from initial incision to insertion of the chest tube was 37 minutes. The median doses of fentanyl and midazolam were 50 µg and 5 mg, respectively. All procedures were performed without unexpected events. Of the 26 cases of pleural disease with an unknown cause, 19 were successfully diagnosed using MT. Additionally, diagnostic MT provided clinically useful information in the other six patients. Therapeutic MT was very effective for treatment of malignant pleural effusion or empyema. The median number of days with chest tube drainage was 6 (3 days for diagnostic MT and 8 days for therapeutic MT). CONCLUSION: MT is a useful and necessary procedure for both diagnosis and treatment of pleural diseases.

Current Status and Future Perspectives on Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

Esophageal cancer has one of the highest malignant potentials of any type of tumor. The 3-field lymph node dissection is the standard procedure in Japan for surgically curable esophageal cancer in the middle or upper thoracic esophagus. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is being increasingly performed in many countries, and several studies report its feasibility and curability; further, the magnifying effect of the thoracoscope is another distinct advantage. However, few studies have reported that minimally invasive esophagectomy is more beneficial than open esophagectomy. A recent meta-analysis revealed that minimally invasive esophagectomy reduces blood loss, respiratory complications, the total morbidity rate, and hospitalization duration. A randomized study reported that the pulmonary infection rate, pain score, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization duration, and postoperative 6-week quality of life were significantly better with the minimally invasive procedure than with other procedures. In the future, sentinel lymph node mapping might play a significant role by obtaining individualized information to customize the surgical procedure for individual patients' specific needs.

Hemothorax Without Injury of the Pleural Cavity due to Diaphragmatic and Liver Laceration Caused by a Right Upper Anterior Chest Stab Wound

A hemothorax usually occur, due to injuries to the intercostal and great vessels, pulmonary damage, and sometimes fractured ribs. We report a case in which the hemothorax that occurred, neither intrathoracic injury nor injury to internal thoracic vessels and organs, via lacerated diaphragmatic and liver laceration due to a right upper part of anterior chest stab injury caused by a sharp object. The patient's general conditions gradually worsened, so chest and abdominal computed tomogram were taken. The abdominal computed tomogram revealed diaphragmatic injuries and bleeding from the lacerated liver. We performed an exploratory laparotomy to control the bleeding from the lacerated liver with simple primary sutures. In addition exploration was performed in the right pleural space through the lacerated diaphragm with a thoracoscopic instrument. There were no bleeding foci in the right pleural space, the vessels, or the lung on the thoracoscopic video. Closure of the lacerated diaphragm was achieved with simple, primary sutures. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and the patient was discharged.

Mini-Transthoracic Supradiaphragmatic Approach to the Thoracolumbar Junction

Anterior reconstruction with instrumentation of the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) offers: 1) the biomechanical advantage of immediate restoration of the load-bearing anterior column and 2) the ideal biological milieu for an optimal arthrodesis. The authors describe the mini-transthoracic supradiaphragmatic (MTTS) approach to the TLJ. Its technical feasibility is compared with that of the traditional transdiaphragmatic and thoracoscopic supradiaphragmatic approaches to this area of the spine. This technique was performed in 21 patients from 2004 to 2006. There were no surgical mortalities. The MTTS approach without the use of a thoracoscope was successfully employed in this study to treat patients with various lesions located at the TLJ. The diaphragmatic opening, even at its smallest diameter, provides excellent views of the operative field and avoids the significant morbidities associated with the traditional transdiaphragmatic approach.

A Case of Acute Biphenotype Leukemia after Diagnosis of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / 대한혈액학회지

We present the case of a 34-year-old man with acute biphenotype leukemia that co-expressed B-lymphoid and myeloid antigen after the diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). The diagnosis of PAP was established by Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction staining on the Video Associated Thoracoscope guided lung biopsy and biphenotype leukemia was revealed by immunohistochemical stains of the blasts harvested from the bone marrow biopsy. Supposedly, PAP follows a hematologic malignancy, yet this case shows the reverse sequence.

Ventriculo-sagittal sinus shunt malfunction. Causes of failure, avoidance, and alternatives

This case report highlights causes of failure of the ventriculo-sagittal sinus [V-S] shunt and precautions to avoid them. We present, a 14-year-old girl, a case of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus with multiple revisions of ventriculo-peritoneal [V-P] and ventriculo-atrial [V-A] shunts. She developed malfunctioned V-S shunt, and ventriculitis that was complicated with massive cerebellar and brain stem infarction and the patient died. To avoid malfunction, a cardiac catheter with side slits should be used, magnetic resonance angiography is recommended before shunt placement to check the patency of the sinus, and the pressure in the superior sagittal sinus should be measured at the time of surgery. In patients with problematic distal catheters, direct placement of the catheter into the right atrium using thoracoscope could be an alternative to gall bladder or ureter shunts

Comparison of volume-control and pressure-control ventilation during one-lung ventilation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that pressure control ventilation allows a more even distribution in the lung and better maintenance of the mean airway pressure than is achieved with volume control ventilation. We try to compare the effect of pressure control ventilation (PC) with that of volume control ventilation without an end-inspiratory pause (VC) during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in an anesthetized, paralyzed patient for performing thoracopic bullectomy of the lung. METHODS: We ventilated 20 patients with VC and PC after the insertion of a thoracoscope in continual order for, at least for 15 minutes, for each, VC and PC procedure. At the end of VC and PC, the respiratory mechanics, gasometrics, and hemodynamic parameters were measured and collected. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between VC and PC except for the peak inspiratory airway pressure (PIP), the mean airway pressure and the arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2). The PIP was significantly decreased from 27.0 +/- 6.0 cmH2O (VC) to 21.8 +/- 5.4 cmH2O (PC). The mean airway pressure was significantly increased from 8.6 +/- 1.6 cmH2O (VC) to 9.4 +/- 2.0 cmH2O (PC), and the PaO2 was significantly increased from 252.9 +/- 97.3 mmHg (VC) to 285.2 +/- 103.8 mmHg (PC). CONCLUSIONS: If PC allows mechanical ventilation with the same tidal volume and respiratory rate as VC during OLV, then PC significantly increases the PaO2 but this is not clinically significant, and the PC significantly decreases the PIP, which induces barotrauma or volutrauma when the PIP is excessively high.

Módulo pleuroscopía toracoscopía / Thoracoscopy

Thoracoscopy was first described in 1910. Since then it has been used for the study and treatment of pleural diseases. Its main indications today are the study of exudative pleural effusions of unknown etiology and the pleurodesis procedure via talc poudrage. Thoracoscopy allows exploring the pleural cavity and taking biopsies of pleural lesions. It can be performed in the endoscopy room or in the operating room. It is usually done under local anesthesia with spontaneous breathing and intravenous mild sedation. The diagnostic yield in malignant pleural effusions is over 95 percent, and its efficacy in getting pleurodesis is over 90 percent. Thoracoscopy is a simple and well tolerated procedure. In neoplastic disease it is a much better technique than the percutaneous pleural biopsy because of its high diagnostic yield and because it allows to carry out pleurodesis at the same time. In patients who have poor prognosis it may avoid more complex procedures like video assisted thoracic surgery.

La toracoscopía fue descrita el año 1910. Desde entonces se ha utilizado para el estudio y tratamiento de la patología pleural. las indicaciones hoy en día se centran en el estudio diagnóstico de exudados pleurales de etiología desconocida y para realizar pleurodesis mediante la insuflación de talco. La toracoscopía permite visualizar la cavidad pleural y tomar biopsias dirigidas sobre las lesiones sospechosas. Puede efectuarse en sala de endoscopía o en pabellón. El procedimiento se efectúa con el paciente ventilando en forma espontánea, con anestesia local, analgesia y sedación endovenosa. En el derrame pleural maligno, el rendimiento diagnóstico es sobre el 95 por ciento, y la efectividad de la pleurodesis es mayor al 90 por ciento. La toracoscopía es un procedimiento simple y bien tolerado. Es una técnica muy superior a la biopsia pleural percutánea por su capacidad de realizar diagnóstico y tratamiento en el mismo acto quirúrgico. En pacientes con un mal pronóstico permite evitar procedimientos más complejos como la videotoracoscopía.

Create a standard mini-swine model of chronic ischemic myocardium by thoracoscopy / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To create a standard mini-swine model of chronic ischemic myocardium by endoscopy for the research of gene transfer and stem cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three male China experimental minipigs were used, aged from 8 to 11 months with a mean of (9.3 +/- 1.8) months and weighed from 20 to 30 kg with a mean of (29.3 +/- 4.3) kg. The myocardial ischemia was established by gradual occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) with an Ameroid constrictor. The Ameroid constrictor was implanted around LCX by endoscopy. Selective coronary angiography, electrocardiogram and Echo-Doppler study were performed perioperatively to evaluate the degree of stenosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chronic ischemic myocardial models were successfully generated in 20 of 23 swine by full-endoscopy. Ameroid constrictors were placed at the LCX accurately. Three swine died of anesthetic accident, cardiac arrhythmia at secondary coronary angiography, and pulmonary infection within 6 weeks after operation respectively. Operation time was 25 to 65 min with a mean of (46 +/- 9) min. The blood loss was 30 to 60 ml with a mean of (55 +/- 12) ml. Six weeks later, coronary angiography revealed the total occlusion and partial stenosis (> 85%) of the LCX occurred in 7 and 13 swine respectively. Cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction were found in all swine. The ejection fraction value was (65.0 +/- 6.3)% before operation and (41.0 +/- 9.3)% after operation (P = 0.008). The fractional shortening value was (36.2 +/- 4.3)% before operation and (34.2 +/- 2.3)% after operation (P = 0.027).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The endoscopic surgery is a less invasive way to create a standard mini-swine model of chronic ischemic myocardium with effective results.</p>

Clinical Results Following T3, 4 vs T3 Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy in 30 Axillary Hyperhidrosis Patients / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a definitive minimally invasive treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Different techniques exist for controlling axillary hyperhidrosis, but they are temporary and expensive. We compared the results after using two different levels of sympathicotomy for treating axillary hyperhidrosis: T3-T4 and T4. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between June 2002 and May 2007, 30 patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis underwent either T3-T4 or T4 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T3-T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation), and Group II (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation). The procedures were bilateral and simultaneous, involving the use of two 2-mm trocars and a 0-degree 2-mm thoracoscope under general anesthesia with single endotracheal intubation. Outcome parameters included satisfaction rate of treatment, degree of compensatory sweating, and postoperative complications. Patients were interviewed by telephone regarding satisfaction and compensatory hyperhidrosis. RESULT: There were no differences in age between group I and group II. The mean follow-up for the T3-T4 group was 38.7+/-2.3 months, and the mean follow-up for the T4 group was 18.7+/-3.6 months. The immediate therapeutic success rate (within 2 weeks postoperative) was 100% in both groups, and there were no recurrences in either group during the long-term follow-up period. The satisfaction rate was higher (93.3%) in the T4 group than in the T3-T4 group (53.3%), and the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was lower in the T4 group (6.7%) than in the T3-T4 group (46.7%). Postoperative complications included one mild pneumothorax and two instances of intercostal neuralgia. Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) correlated well with postoperative satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Both techniques proved effective for controlling isolated axillary hyperhidrosis. The T4 group had a higher satisfaction rate and lower severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis. Hence, thermal ablation of the lower interganglionic fibers of the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the fourth rib is a more practical and minimally invasive treatment than is the T3-T4 surgical method, according to the degree of compensatory sweating in isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.

Closure of Atrial Septal Defects through a Video-assisted Mini-thoracotomy / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery is currently popular, but this has been applied very sparingly to cardiac surgery because of some limitations. Our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of atrial septal defect (ASD) closure through a video-assisted mini-thoracotomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifteen patients were analyzed. Their mean age was 31+/-6 years. The mean ASD size was 24+/-5 mm and there were 3 cases of significant tricuspid regurgitation. The working window was made through the right 4th intercostal space via a 4~5 cm inframammary skin incision. CPB was conducted with performing peripheral cannulation. After cardioplegic arrest, the ASDs were closed with a patch (n=11) or direct sutures (n=4), and the procedures were assisted by using a thoracoscope. There were 3 cases of tricuspid repair and 1 case of mitral valve repair. The mean CPB time and aortic occlusion time were 160+/-47 and 70+/-26 minutes, respectively. RESULT: There was no mortality, but there were 3 minor complications (one pneumothorax, one wound dehiscence and one arrhythmia). The mean hospital stay was 5.9+/-1.8 days. The mean follow-up duration was 10.7+/-6.4 months. The follow-up echocardiogram noted no residual ASD or significant tricuspid regurgitation. Three patients suffered from pain or numbness. CONCLUSION: This study showed satisfactory clinical and cosmetic results. Although the operative time is still too long, more experience and specialized equipment would make this technique a good option for treating ASD.

Survival of Stage IIIA NSCLC Patients with Changes in N Stage after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients histologically proven to have stage N2 disease by mediastinoscope or thoracoscope underwent subsequent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This study was designed to find out if there were any differences in survival or recurrence rates between N2 positive and N2 negative patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1998 and December 2005, we retrospectively analyzed 69 patients who were divided into three groups. Group A consisted of patients whose N stage was downstaged, group B of patients whose N stage was the same, and Group C of patients who could not undergo surgery because of disease progression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. We analyzed and compared the mean survival, three-year survival, mean disease-free survival, and three-year disease-free survival rates for the three groups. RESULT: There were no demographic differences among the groups. The mean survival was 58, 47, and 21 months for groups A, B, and C, respectively. The mean survival was longest in group A, but no statistically significant difference was found on A-B or B-C group comparison (p>0.05). However, a significant difference was noted between group A and group C (p:0.01). Three-year survival rates were 67%, 41%, and 21.6% for groups A, B, and C, respectively, with a statistical difference similar to that seen in mean survival. The mean disease-free survival was 44 months in group A and 45 months in group B, with no statistically significant difference noted. No significant differences were noted in the three-year disease-free survival rates (55.1%, 46.8%). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in survival or recurrence rates with changes in N stage after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. However, mean survival, three-year survival, and three-year disease-free survival rates tended to be higher in downstaged patients. Nevertheless, the difference was statistically insignificant, and therefore further studies with more patients and longer follow-up are necessary to clarify the positive effects on the survival and prognosis of downstaged patients.

Comparative Study of 2 mm Video-thoracoscopic Examination and High-resolution Computed Tomography for Spontaneous Pneumothoarx Patients / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax patients with blebs or bullae are considered to be good candidates for operation, and various objective diagnostic modalities have been performed for detection of blebs and bullae. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of thoracoscopic examination with using a minimally invasive 2 mm thoracoscope with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From June 2001 to March 2002, 34 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent study with 2 mm video-thoracoscopic examination and HRCT. We regarded a bleb larger than 5 mm in diameter as significant. Standard thoracoscopic wedge resection was performed in 18 patients with significant bleb via a 2 mm video-thoracoscopic examination. 1 patient incurred bleeding, and the remaining 15 patients were treated with pleural drainage. RESULT: Multiple or single bleb lesions were detected by 2 mm video-thoracoscope in 52.9% (18/34) of the patients with primary pneumothorax. For a total of 19 patients who were operated on, the diagnostic accuracy of the 2 mm video-thoracoscopic examination for bullae and bleb was 94.7% (18/19), which was superior to that of HRCT (73.7%, 14/19). At a mean follow-up of 30+/-3 months, no recurrence occurred in both the operative group and the non-operative group. CONCLUSION: 2 mm video-thoracoscopic examination under local anesthesia has higher diagnostic accuracy than HRCT, and it is a useful alternative for determining the operative indications for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Videotoracoscopia en el tratamiento del pectus excavatum / Videothoracoscopy in the treatment of pectus excavatum

El Pectus Excavatum o tórax de zapatero es la malformación más frecuente de la cara anterior del tórax. Desde que el Profesor de Cirugía Sauerbruch en 1920 intervino por primera vez un paciente adulto-joven, la técnica quirúrgica abierta con tracción postoperatoria se continuó aplicando; hasta que; Ravitch en 1947 publica su experiencia eliminando la tracción toráxica post operatoria. Desde entonces se suceden variaciones en la técnica manteniendo el principio básico de resección de cartílagos y remodelaje de la posición esternal. El gran cambio se produce con la innovación de la cirugía toráxica guiada por fibra óptica: la Videotoracoscopia (VTC).

The Comparison of Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) with 10 mm Thoracoscopy to 2 mm Thoracoscopy for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with 2 mm thoracoscopy in primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was known to be unreliable in its accuracy and recurrence rate. We compared 10 mm VATS with 2 mm VATS in the results of operation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Sept. 1998 to Dec. 2002, 176 cases (10 mm VATS; 73 cases, 2 mm VATS; 103 cases) of PSP were treated by VATS bleb resection at Korea University Ansan Hospital. 10 mm thoracoscope, 5 mm port, and 5 mm instruments were used in 10 mm VATS group, and 2 mm thoracoscope, 2 mm ports and 2 mm instruments used in 2 mm VATS group. In the two groups, staples were inserted through 11.5 mm port for chest tube. RESULT: The mean follow-up duration was 20.8+/-16.1 months in 10 mm VATS group, and 13.9+/-8.2 months in 2 mm VATS. The most common indication of operation was a recurrent pneumothorax (34%) in 10 mm VATS and patient's desire (40%) in 2 mm VATS, respectively. The operation time, number of staples used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. Other significant variables affecting the operation time in linear regression analysis were the number of staples that used in operation, the presence of pleural adhesion, and type of pleurodesis and thoracoscope used in operation. However, R2 values were lower than 0.1. The postoperative recurrence rate was 2.7% in 10 mm VATS and 2.9% in 2 mm VATS. It was not significant statistically. Recurrent cases developed within 1 year in both groups but the difference was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Although there were differences in follow-up duration between two groups, the operation time, number of staples that used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. And in 2 mm VATS, there were no technical difficulties during operation and no differences in recurrence rate from 10 mm VATS. As a result, we suggest that 2 mm VATS can be used in the treatment of PSP.