Bullectomy Questions & Answers

1. Greenberg JA, Singhal S, Kaiser LR. Giant bullous lung disease: evaluation, selection, techniques, and outcomes. Chest Surg Clin N Am. 2003 Nov. 13 (4):631-49. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. Lee S, Park SY, Bae MK, Lee JG, Kim DJ, Chung KY, et al. Efficacy of polyglycolic acid sheet after thoracoscopic bullectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Jun. 95 (6):1919-23. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Mehran RJ, Deslauriers J. Indications for surgery and patient work-up for bullectomy. Chest Surg Clin N Am. 1995 Nov. 5 (4):717-34. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Adluri K, Parmar JM. Use the bulla for pneumostasis. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2004 Mar. 3 (1):19-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Sakamoto K, Takei H, Nishii T, Maehara T, Omori T, Tajiri M, et al. Staple line coverage with absorbable mesh after thoracoscopic bullectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax. Surg Endosc. 2004 Mar. 18 (3):478-81. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Nakahara K, Nakaoka K, Ohno K, Monden Y, Maeda M, Masaoka A, et al. Functional indications for bullectomy of giant bulla. Ann Thorac Surg. 1983 May. 35 (5):480-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. Zoumot Z, Kemp SV, Caneja C, Singh S, Shah PL. Bronchoscopic intrabullous autologous blood instillation: a novel approach for the treatment of giant bullae. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Oct. 96 (4):1488-1491. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. Brister NW, Barnette RE, Kim V, Keresztury M. Anesthetic considerations in candidates for lung volume reduction surgery. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008 May 1. 5 (4):432-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Wakabayashi A, Brenner M, Kayaleh RA, Berns MW, Barker SJ, Rice SJ, et al. Thoracoscopic carbon dioxide laser treatment of bullous emphysema. Lancet. 1991 Apr 13. 337 (8746):881-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. Nickoladze GD. Functional results of surgery for bullous emphysema. Chest. 1992 Jan. 101 (1):119-22. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. Schipper PH, Meyers BF, Battafarano RJ, Guthrie TJ, Patterson GA, Cooper JD. Outcomes after resection of giant emphysematous bullae. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Sep. 78 (3):976-82; discussion 976-82. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Neviere R, Catto M, Bautin N, Robin S, Porte H, Desbordes J, et al. Longitudinal changes in hyperinflation parameters and exercise capacity after giant bullous emphysema surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006 Nov. 132 (5):1203-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Palla A, Desideri M, Rossi G, Bardi G, Mazzantini D, Mussi A, et al. Elective surgery for giant bullous emphysema: a 5-year clinical and functional follow-up. Chest. 2005 Oct. 128 (4):2043-50. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Dartevelle P, Macchiarini P, Chapelier A. Operative technique of bullectomy. Chest Surg Clin N Am. 1995 Nov. 5 (4):735-49. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Lin KC, Luh SP. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of patients with bullous emphysema. Int J Gen Med. 2010 Aug 30. 3:215-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

16. Nakanishi K. Comparison of cryoprecipitate with commercial fibrinogen in bullectomy. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2010 Feb. 18 (1):27-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Brenner M, Kayaleh RA, Milne EN, Della Bella L, Osann K, Tadir Y, et al. Thoracoscopic laser ablation of pulmonary bullae. Radiographic selection and treatment response. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994 Mar. 107 (3):883-90. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Baldi S, Palla A, Mussi A, Falaschi F, Carrozzi L, Giuntini C, et al. Influence of bulla volume on postbullectomy outcome. Can Respir J. 2001 Jul-Aug. 8 (4):233-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

19. Lee DK, Kim H, Kim HK, Chung DI, Han KN, Choi YH. CO₂ during single incisional thoracoscopic bleb resection with two-lung ventilation. J Thorac Dis. 2018 Aug. 10 (8):5057-5065. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

20. Jung J, Kim DH, Son J, Lee SK, Son BS. Comparative study between local anesthesia and general anesthesia in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Ann Transl Med. 2019 Oct. 7 (20):553. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

21. Chihara K, Okita K, Tamari S, Hirano M. [Surgery for emphysematous giant bullae]. Kyobu Geka. 2011 Apr. 64 (4):330-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Hata Y, Takagi K, Sasamoto S, Kato N, Satoh F, Otsuka H, et al. Infected giant bulla treated by percutaneous drainage followed later by resection: report of a case. Surg Today. 2007. 37 (8):656-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

23. Meyers BF, Patterson GA. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 10: Bullectomy, lung volume reduction surgery, and transplantation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax. 2003 Jul. 58 (7):634-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Nakanishi K. Long-term effect of a thoracoscopic stapled bullectomy alone for preventing the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Surg Today. 2009. 39 (7):553-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Shigemura N, Akashi A, Nakagiri T. New operative method for a giant bulla: sutureless and stapleless thoracoscopic surgery using the Ligasure system. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2002 Oct. 22 (4):646-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

26. Wakabayashi A. Thoracoscopic technique for management of giant bullous lung disease. Ann Thorac Surg. 1993 Sep. 56 (3):708-12. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

27. Barker SJ, Clarke C, Trivedi N, Hyatt J, Fynes M, Roessler P. Anesthesia for thoracoscopic laser ablation of bullous emphysema. Anesthesiology. 1993 Jan. 78 (1):44-50. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Li L, Tian H, Yue W, Li S, Gao C, Si L. Subxiphoid vs intercostal single-incision video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax: A randomised controlled trial. Int J Surg. 2016 Jun. 30:99-103. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

29. Kapicibasi HO. Uniportal VATS technique for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: An analysis of 46 cases. Pak J Med Sci. 2020 Jan-Feb. 36 (2):224-228. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

30. Lopes S, Maciel J, Pinho P. Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery bullectomy in vanishing lung syndrome - What about giant bullae?. Cir Cir. 2020. 88 (Suppl 1):68-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Zhang D, Miao J, Hu X, Hu B, Li H. A clinical study of efficacy of polyglycolic acid sleeve after video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. J Thorac Dis. 2017 Apr. 9 (4):1093-1099. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

32. Mao Y, Zhang Z, Zeng W, Zhang W, Zhang J, You G, et al. A clinical study of efficacy of polyglycolic acid patch in surgery for pneumothorax:a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2020 May 27. 15 (1):117. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

33. Kawachi R, Matsuwaki R, Tachibana K, Karita S, Nakazato Y, Tanaka R, et al. Thoracoscopic modified pleural tent for spontaneous pneumothorax. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2016 Aug. 23 (2):190-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

34. Busetto A, Moretti R, Barbaresco S, Fontana P, Pagan V. Extrapleural bullectomy or lung volume reduction: air tight surgery for emphysema without strip-patch. Acta Chir Hung. 1999. 38 (1):15-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

35. Brunelli A, Al Refai M, Muti M, Sabbatini A, Fianchini A. Pleural tent after upper lobectomy: a prospective randomized study. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Jun. 69 (6):1722-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

36. Venuta F, De Giacomo T, Rendina EA, Ricci C, Coloni GF. Thoracoscopic pleural tent. Ann Thorac Surg. 1998 Nov. 66 (5):1833-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

37. Cho S, Huh DM, Kim BH, Lee S, Kwon OC, Ahn WS, et al. Staple line covering procedure after thoracoscopic bullectomy for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Jun. 56 (4):217-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

38. Moser C, Opitz I, Zhai W, Rousson V, Russi EW, Weder W, et al. Autologous fibrin sealant reduces the incidence of prolonged air leak and duration of chest tube drainage after lung volume reduction surgery: a prospective randomized blinded study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Oct. 136 (4):843-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Dubois L, Malthaner RA. Video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy and talc poudrage for spontaneous pneumothoraces: effect on short-term lung function. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Dec. 140 (6):1272-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

Neerja Gulati, MD Fellow in Pulmonary Medicine, Interfaith Medical Center

Neerja Gulati, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

M Frances J Schmidt, MD Chief of Pulmonary Medicine, Pulmonary Fellowship Program, Teaching Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Interfaith Medical Center

M Frances J Schmidt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dale K Mueller, MD Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgical Associates, Ascension Healthcare

Dale K Mueller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Chicago Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Rush Surgical Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr R. Lazzaro (New York Methodist Hospital) and Dr A. Ketosugbo (Interfaith Medical Center).

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