[A case treated surgically through anterior axillary thoracotomy for recurrent right spontaneous pneumothorax after repeated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery].

A 21-year-old male who had thoracoscopic surgery for right spontaneous pneumothorax was admitted to our hospital complaining of dyspnea due to the recurrence. There was no bulla in right apex but empysematous change in visceral pleura at re-thoracoscopic surgery. Two bulla in right S6 were removal using endo-stapler. Three years after the second thoracoscopic surgery, the recurrence of right pneumothorax was recognized. Chest CT revealed a new bulla in right apex. Therefore the third operation was carried out through anterior axillary thoracotomy. A new bulla was resected with endo-stapler and pleurodesis using argon laser was also applied to prevent of recurrence of pneumothorax. The patient is now doing well without recurrence 6 months after the third operation.