[ XXXX . A retrospective study of 495 cases].

@entity1 @entity5229 @entity548 @entity204 @entity456
We conducted a retrospective study of @entity1 treated in our department for @entity5229 ( @entity5229 ) between 1986 and 1993. The 495 @entity1 were between 12 and 81 years old (mean 28.2 years). Four hundred fifteen (83.8%) were @entity1 and 80 (16.2%) were @entity1 . @entity5229 was in the right lung in 262 cases (52.9%) and in the left lung in 215 (43.5%). Both sides were affected in 18 cases (3.6%). The initial treatment was @entity456 ; small caliber drains were used in 85 and no associated complications were observed. On 185 occasions (37.3%), @entity1 required surgical repair as a result of air leaks, recurrence or acute @entity548 . There were postsurgical complications in 15 cases (8.1%) but no recurrences or @entity204 after surgery. We observed no significant differences in the number of recurrences after use of conventional drains or small caliber drains. Nor were there differences in mean time of hospital stay or complications after conventional surgery or video assisted surgery, a technique that has only recently been introduced. We conclude that @entity5229 responds well to treatment with pleural drains and that small caliber catheters offer a good alternative for treating first episodes. Surgery is indicated when there is recurrence or when air leaks are persistent. At present, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery has successfully replaced axillary thoracotomy for most @entity1 .
