Table 2.
Patient characteristics stratified by TPC or PPC
| TPC 52 | LPC 38 | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backgrounds: | |||
| Age at the first pneumothorax episode (years) | 38 ± 9.5a | 38 ± 11a | 0.944 |
| Age at surgery | 40 ± 9.9a | 42 ± 9.7a | 0.431 |
| Gender (male/female) | 28 / 24 | 18 / 20 | 0.544 |
| Laterality (right/left) | 29 / 23 | 21 / 17 | 0.962 |
| Surgical approach: | |||
| VATS / Open thoracotomy | 52 / 0 | 38 / 0 | N/A |
| Number of used ports | 4.0 ± 0.28a | 3.3 ± 0.45a | < 0.001 |
| Surgical material: | |||
| ORC mesh (10.2 × 20.3 cm) | 14 ± 2.3a | 9.0 ± 2.3a | < 0.001 |
| Amount of fibrin sealant (mL) | 9.1 ± 2.7a | 7.1 ± 1.9a | < 0.001 |
| Operating time (minutes) | 140 ± 35a | 110 ± 32a | < 0.001 |
| Severe complication (≥ grade IIIa)b (during surgery) | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Follow-up period after surgery (months) | 38 ± 22a | 65 ± 20a | < 0.001 |
TPC total pleural covering, LPC lower pleural covering, VATS video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, ORC oxidized regenerated cellulose, N/A not applicable
aMean ± standard deviation, bClavien-Dindo classification