RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of video-assisted thoracoscopic talcage for recurrent primary versus persistent secondary spontaneous pneumothorax JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 412 OP 416 DO 10.1183/09031936.97.10020412 VO 10 IS 2 A1 M Noppen A1 M Meysman A1 J d'Haese A1 I Monsieur A1 W Verhaeghe A1 M Schlesser A1 W Vincken YR 1997 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/10/2/412.abstract AB Thoracoscopic talcage (TT) is a safe and effective prophylactic treatment for patients suffering from recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Empirically, TT is considered equally effective in the treatment of persistent secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), although this has not yet been proved. In this study, the efficacy and safety of TT was prospectively evaluated in 28 patients (17 males and 11 females, mean age 27 +/- 8 yrs), with 31 episodes of recurrent PSP, and in 20 patients (13 males and 7 females, mean age 43 +/- 21 yrs) with persistent SSP. TT proved to be equally effective in achieving pleurodesis in both groups; there were 6.5% recurrences in the PSP group and 8.7% in the SSP group during a mean follow-up period of 18 months (p > 0.05). In the SSP group, there were significantly more prolonged postoperative air leaks (26 vs 0%; p = 0.004) and a longer postoperative chest tube drainage time (35.5 +/- 18 vs 24.9 +/- 3.2 hrs; p = 0.002) was necessary. All air leaks, however, ceased spontaneously during drainage. Duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the SSP group (4.7 +/- 2 vs 3.2 +/- 0.5 days; p < 0.0001). Postoperative pain (90 vs 43%; p < 0.0001) and fever (65 vs 17%; p = 0.001) were more frequent in the PSP group than in the SSP group. There were no major peri- or postoperative complications in either group. We conclude that thoracoscopic talcage is as efficient and safe in achieving pleurodesis in persistent spontaneous pnuemothorax as in recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax.