| Absolute contraindications |
| Circumferentially adherent pleurae |
| Uncorrectable coagulopathy |
| Intractable cough |
| Significant hypercapnia (PCO2 >60 mmHg) |
| Limited cardiopulmonary reserve to tolerate pneumothorax |
| Relative contraindications |
| Myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 weeks |
| Coagulopathy (platelet count <50,000, INR >2) |
| Obstructing central airway tumors |
| Hypoxemia (PO2 <50 mmHg on ambient air) |
| Lack of multidisciplinary collaboration with thoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists and trained nursing staff |
| Inability to tolerate lateral decubitus positioning |
| Morbid obesity |
