Mille Feuille Method as a Novel Surgical Technique for Intractable Pneumothorax

Sosei Abe; Keita Tokuishi; Shin-Ichi Maekawa; Toshinori Hamada; Koichi Miki; Yoshinobu Horio; Akinori Iwasaki; Toshihiko Sato; Kan Okabayashi

doi:10.1016/j.atssr.2023.07.014

Mille Feuille Method as a Novel Surgical Technique for Intractable Pneumothorax

Ann Thorac Surg Short Rep. 2023 Aug 19;1(4):583-585. doi: 10.1016/j.atssr.2023.07.014. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Sosei Abe^{1

2}, Keita Tokuishi^{1

2}, Shin-Ichi Maekawa¹, Toshinori Hamada¹, Koichi Miki³, Yoshinobu Horio⁴, Akinori Iwasaki², Toshihiko Sato², Kan Okabayashi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chest Surgery, National Hospital Organization Fukuokahigashi Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
² Department of General Thoracic, Breast and Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, Hiraoyama Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Abstract

Most cases of intractable pneumothorax are complicated by underlying lung diseases, which lead to poor intrathoracic conditions. Therefore, the treatment becomes even more challenging, and standard surgical techniques cannot always be applied to treat pneumothorax. We report a novel surgical technique using polyglycolic acid mesh and fibrin glue for intractable pneumothorax, named the mille feuille method. This method involves multiple layers of polyglycolic acid mesh and fibrin glue to control air leaks. A step-by-step protocol to perform it is described.