[Pneumothorax catamenial: results of 18 cases operas]. / Pneumothorax catamenial: resultats de 18 cas opérés.

This study aims to propose a therapeutic approach for catamenial pneumothorax based on outcomes reported in 18 cases. We conducted a retrospective study of 18 female elderly patients with an average age of 32.2 years who had undergone surgery for right (16 cases) and bilateral catamenial pneumothorax (2 cases) from January 1994 to December 2016. The patients were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the evolution of our surgical capability over time: group 1(G1) from January 1994 to June 2006, group 2 (G2) from July 2006 to February 2008, group 3(G3) from March 2008 to December 2016, these groups were composed of 5, 2 and 11 patients respectively. All these patients were nulliparous who had suffered from dysmenorrhoea associated, in 11 cases, to catamenial chest pain since puberty. Standard radiographic evaluation of the chest was sistematically performed and complemented, in 8 cases, by chest CT scan that showed apical bubbles in addition to pneumothorax (5 cases). Exploration through posterolateral mini-thoracotomy (16 cases) and through videothoracoscopy (2 case of G3) showed diaphragmatic fenestrations (18 cases) and bubbles (5 cases). Biopsy of lesions as well as resection of the bubbles were sistematically performed . Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic fenestrations was based, in group 1, on resection-suture with pleural abrasion, in group 2, on Gore-tex patches coverage with pleural abrasion and, in group 3, on patch coverage with pleural talcage. Each patient underwent hormone therapy (triptoreline) for 6 months during postoperative period, in order to suspend menstruations. Surgical outcomes were evaluated on the basis of the recurrence or non-recurrence of a pneumothorax after resumption of menstruations. Mortality was zero. Postoperative hospital length of stay was 9.32 days. Anatomo-pathological examinations confirmed thoracic endometriosis in 9 cases. After a mean follow-up period of 5.3 years, outcomes were good in 12 patients (3/5 in G1, 1/2 in G2 and 8/11 in G3); 3 patients in G3 continued to have minimal episodes of dyspnoea at the beginning of some menstrual cycles without radiological evidence of recidivism, 3 patients (2 in G1 and 1 in G2) had recurrences requiring reoperation. We recommend phrenoplasty using patches associated with pleural talcage and complementary concomitant hormone therapy for 6 months in patients suffering from catamenial pneumothorax with diaphragmatic fenestrations.

Three Hundred Fifty-One Patients With Pneumothorax Undergoing Uniportal (Single Port) Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is usually performed using three ports. Uniportal VATS has not yet been widely developed. We report our single institution experience in uniportal VATS for the surgical management of 351 patients with pneumothorax. METHODS: Between November 2009 and February 2016, we conducted a study in 351 patients treated for pneumothorax using uniportal VATS. Resection of apical bullae associated with partial pleurectomy, pleural abrasion, or talc effusion was performed. RESULTS: The mean age was 29.6 ± 10.1 years. Surgical indications were mainly persistence or recurrence of pneumothorax. Sixty-seven patients (19%) presented with complications. At the 30-day control, 60.1% of patients were asymptomatic; 85% of patients were satisfied with the single small scar. The recurrence rate was 3.6% at 24 ± 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: Uniportal VATS is feasible, safe, and reproducible in the treatment of pneumothorax. Morbidity is similar to multiport VATS. The recurrence rate is comparable with best results after multiport VATS or thoracotomy. Patients were satisfied with the single small scar.

Noncardiac thoracic surgery in Abidjan, from 1977 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: To report and analyze noncardiac thoracic operations performed at the Cardiology Institute of Abidjan (Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan) from 1977 to 2015. METHODS: This is a retrospective and descriptive study covering 39 years, from 1977 to 2015. This study period was divided into three periods of 13 years each: P1 from 1977 to 1989, P2 from 1990 to 2002 and P3 from 2003 to 2015. Medical records of 2014 operated patients were analyzed: 414 patients for P1, 464 patients for P2, 1,136 patients for P3. The records destroyed in a fire in 1997 were not included in the study. The age, sex, pathologies, types of operations, post-operative complications and mortality were analyzed with usual statistical tests. RESULTS: The average age varied from 35 years in P1 to 31.6 years in P3. Men predominate in all periods. Distribution of important groups of pathologies observed varies significantly over the three periods; In particular, we note an increase in trauma cases (tripling between P1 and P2, 140% between P2 and P3), and a decrease in tumors percentages, and infections and pulmonary sequelae of tuberculosis. Surgical management of thoracic trauma has increased (56.9% in P3) followed by the pleural surgery (21.3%) and pulmonary resections (13.9%). Persistent air leak >7 days was the predominant complication over the three periods. Postoperative empyema increased in P3 (14.7%). Close chest drainage-irrigation is the most frequent procedure performed to sterilize a major complication like postoperative empyema without bronchopleural fistula. Overall mortality decreased from 5.3% in P1 to 3.4% in P3. CONCLUSIONS: Noncardiac thoracic surgery operations still concern infections, pulmonary sequelae of tuberculosis, thoracic tumors and many more thoracic trauma caused by current armed conflicts and terrorist attacks. But access to thoracic surgical care remains difficult for our population secondary to low economic status, and lack of a health insurance system. Therefore surgical consultation is often obtained at a very advanced stage of the disease. Nevertheless overall mortality observed in the practice of this surgery is reasonable.