Abstract

Background: Chemical pleurodesis is generally accepted palliative dyspnea therapy and preventive of re-accumulation of pleural fluid in patients with malignant pleural effusions. Aim: Comparative analyses of efficiency of chemical pleurodesis between Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) and standard thoracostomy. Methods: From 01.01.2016-01.01.2017 at the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery of University Clinical Center (UCC) Sarajevo retrospective analysis was performed. Studied patients underwent VATS pleurodesis (G1) and standard thoracostomy pleurodesis (G2), with 60 in each group, respecting defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pleurodesis success was examined radiologically over the next three months. Results: Average age of all patients was 63.97±8.75 years. Gender related, 45% were men and 55% were women (F/M=1.47:1). Average hospitalization was 7.22±1.37 (G1: 6.68±1.16; G2: 7.44±1.40; Mann-Whitney U-test: p=0.0016) days. Average thoracic drainage duration was 5.45±1.69, (G1: 4.28±1.15,G2: 6.05±1.58; Mann-Whitney U-test p

Key words: VATS pleurodesis, standard thoracostomy pleurodesis.