An experience with the modified total pleural covering technique in a patient with bilateral intractable pneumothorax secondary to lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Dec;16(6):439-41.

Abstract

We present a case of bilateral intractable pneumothorax associated with a modified form of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), successfully treated with a previously reported surgical procedure, the total pleural covering (TPC) technique, under video-assisted thoracic surgery. The patient was a 28-year-old woman with bilateral pneumothorax secondary to LAM who had undergone thoracoscopic surgery in another hospital. We performed bilateral TPC modified with a preceding coverage of air leak points with polyglycolic acid sheets for reinforcement. Although a minor air leak after the surgery necessitated a mild pleurodesis on the right side, the bilateral pneumothorax was well controlled, and no recurrence has been observed for 9 months. We believe that TPC is a safe and reliable procedure for the management of intractable pneumothorax secondary to LAM. It also has the potential to reduce risk of excessive bleeding in lung transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adult
  • Cellulose, Oxidized / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / complications*
  • Pleura / surgery*
  • Pneumothorax / etiology
  • Pneumothorax / therapy*
  • Surgical Mesh
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
  • Tissue Adhesives / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Cellulose, Oxidized
  • Fibrin Tissue Adhesive
  • Tissue Adhesives