To evaluate video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, VATS) + rapid rehabilitation surgery (fast track surgery, FTS) technology of single operation hole for pulmonary bulla resection and conventional thoracotomy for pulmonary bulla resection in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) for patients with respiratory function after operation.

A retrospective study was conducted on 52 cases of PSP with pulmonary bullae formation from January 2008 to December 2015. Among them, 30 cases (VATS+ FTS group) underwent the the VATS+ FTS operation for single hole pulmonary bullae resection, and 22 cases (traditional thoracotomy group) received the conventional thoracotomy for resection of lung bullae. The lung function indexes [forced expiratory volume in first second(FEV₁), maximum per minute capacity (MMC), forced vital capacity (FVC)], blood gas analysis index [arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO₂), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂), residual alkali (BE)] and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups before and after surgeries.

There was no significant difference in lung function and blood gas analysis between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the recovery of lung function and blood gas analysis in VATS+ FTS group was better than that in traditional surgery group, and the incidence of pulmonary infection in VATS+ FTS group was lower than that in traditional thoracotomy group (P<0.05).

Patients with PSP who underwent the VATS+ FTS operation for single hole pulmonary bullae resection have better respiratory function, faster postoperative recovery rate, lower postoperative complications; thus it is an ideal treatment method.