Bullae are common accompaniments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease especially emphysema. They contribute to increased lung volume and worsen the mechanical disadvantage of the inspiratory muscles by increasing the residual volume (RV) and RV/total lung capacity ratio. Thus effective decompression of a large bulla or bullae is thus important to improve the lung function of affected patien...

The effect of chronic middle ear inflammation on the development of mastoid air cell system was investigated in piglings, whose tympanic bullae closely resemble the human mastoid air cell system. Experimental chronic otitis media was produced by the injection of glycerin into the middle ear cleft of piglings aged from 5 days to 5 weeks after birth. The piglings were subsequently decapitated and...

PURPOSE The postoperative recurrence rate of pneumothorax tends to be higher with thoracoscopic bullectomy than with conventional plication of bullae by axillary thoracotomy or posterolateral thoracotomy. We analyzed the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of pneumothorax in young patients treated with thoracoscopic bullectomy alone for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS Univaria...

Thoracoscopy for spontaneous pneumothorax has been performed over the years by many pulmonologists. The aim of the procedure was merely diagnostic: the detection of blebs and bullae. Therapeutic modalities were restricted to chemical pleurodesis. The development of videothoracoscopy has made more complex interventions, such as bullectomy possible. A protocol for videothoracoscopic treatment of ...

Computed tomography and lung function tests were performed on 43 patients who had evidence on the chest radiograph suggesting bullous emphysema. After computed tomography scan two groups of patients could be identified. Twenty patients had generalised emphysema, which was locally worse in the area of the suspected bulla; and 23 had well defined bullae, which were potentially operable. Results o...