ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopy and thoracotomy for the treatment of encapsulated tuberculous pleurisy. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 99 patients who had underwent surgery for encapsulated tuberculous pleurisy within 3 months of disease onset in our hospital from January through December 2013. Based on the surgical mode, patients were assigned to a video-assisted thoracoscopy group, including 49 patients (35 males and 14 females, a mean age of 26.78±9.36 years), to receive video-assisted thoracoscopic pleurectomy; or a thoracotomy group, including 50 patients (31 males and 19 females, a mean age of 31.84±11.08 years), to receive conventional thoracotomic pleurectomy. The first 43 patients in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group received thoracic catheter drainage, with the drainage volume of 659.08±969.29 ml; the first 48 patients in the thoracotomy group received thoracic catheter drainage, with the drainage volume of 919.03±129.97 ml. The clinical effects were compared between the two groups. ResultsAll the patients in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group completed thoracoscopy without conversion to thoracotomy. The surgery duration and postoperative intubation time were shorter in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group than those in the thoracotomy group (surgery duration:103.00±53.04 min vs. 127.06±51.60 min, P<0.01; postoperative intubation time 3.02±0.83 d vs. 3.94±1.25 d, P<0.01). At the end of 6 months of follow-up, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1>) was 2.83±0.64 L in the thoracos-copy group and 2.25±0.64 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.01); forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.02±0.72 L in the thora-coscopy group and 2.57±0.79 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.05); and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) was 93.90± 15.86 L in the thoracoscopy group and 80.34±17.06 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.01). ConclusionThoracoscopic surgery is feasible for patients with encapsulated pleurisy within 3 months of onset. Furthermore video-assisted thoraco-scopy will be superior to thoracotomy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy, safety, and long-term recurrence rate of thoracoscopic bullae resection combined with parietal pleurectomy or pleural abrasion for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. MethodsRelevant literatures were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases from the establishment of each database to February 1, 2025. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literatures were screened. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software, and the quality of the literatures was evaluated using the Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment Tool and the NOS scale. ResultsA total of 23 articles were included, including 6 randomized controlled studies and 17 retrospective cohort studies, with NOS scores≥7. A total of 3 296 patients were enrolled, including 1 245 in the parietal pleurectomy group and 2 051 in the pleural abrasion group. The meta-analysis results showed that the pleural abrasion group had shorter operation time [MD=19.68, 95%CI (14.12-25.25)], less intraoperative blood loss [MD=11.31, 95%CI (4.20-18.41)], lower postoperative pain score [MD=0.48, 95%CI (0.04-0.91)], lower total postoperative drainage volume [MD=44.31, 95%CI (11.92-76.71)], shorter postoperative drainage time [MD=0.32, 95%CI (0.03-0.60)], and shorter hospital stay [MD=0.40, 95%CI (0.23-0.57)] compared with the parietal pleurectomy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of safety, the parietal pleurectomy group increased the incidence of postoperative pulmonary hemorrhage [OR=3.99, 95%CI (1.49-10.65), P<0.05], but there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis, pneumothorax leakage and pulmonary infection (P>0.05). In addition, the parietal pleurectomy group could effectively reduce the long-term recurrence rate of patients [OR=0.48, 95%CI (0.36-0.64)], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionDecortication inevitably imposes a greater perioperative burden on patients with spontaneous pneumothorax and pulmonary bullae, yet it effectively reduces the risk of postoperative recurrence. While both surgical approaches exhibit similar safety profiles, parietal pleurectomy may elevate the risk of postoperative pulmonary hemorrhage. Therefore, the optimal treatment strategy should be determined based on individual patient characteristics.