Postoperative predictors of ipsilateral and contralateral recurrence in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Background: Preventive surgery for contralateral recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) remains controversial and few studies discussed both ipsilateral and contralateral recurrences simultaneously. Thus, we aimed to identify the predictors of ipsilateral and contralateral PSP recurrence and to review literatures on the association of blebs/bullae on HRCT with PSP recurrence. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who were treated at our hospital for first recurrence of PSP between January 2001 and December 2005. Results: This study included 553 patients who were followed-up for a mean period of 124 months. Ipsilateral and contralateral recurrence of PSP developed in 19.35% and 15.19% of patients, respectively. In the Cox regression analysis, the only significant predictors were no video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) bullectomy (OR: 16.629, P<0.001) for ipsilateral recurrence, and the presence of blebs/bullae on HRCT (OR: 3.215, P=0.024) and low BMI (<18.5 kg/m(2)) (OR: 1.560, P=0.045) for contralateral recurrence. Conclusions: VATS bullectomy was a strong independent predictor for prevention of ipsilateral PSP recurrence. Patients with contralateral blebs or bullae on chest HRCT or those with low BMI may be candidates for preventive VATS bullectomy to avoid recurrences and possible complications.