1. INTRODUCTION Spontaneous pneumothorax is one of the most common types of aeropathic syndrome, caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis and complicated lung cancer. Nearly two hundred years have passed since the first description of the first cases of pneumothorax. Although during this period the scientist´s view of the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment methods has changed, a number of issues related to the diagnostics and treatment of this complication of pulmonary diseases remain unsolved. The aim of the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is to remove the cause of this condition, to perform the decompression of the pleural cavity, to induce the obliteration of the pleural cavity and to prevent the recurrence of the disease. Pleural puncture and drainage of the pleural cavity are not sufficiently effective – the incidence of incomplete lung expansion and rapid recurrence of the disease (relapse) reaches 25% [Mova VA, 1999]. Urgent thoracotomy is performed in cases when the drainage of the pleural cavity fails to reduce the symptoms of the aeropathic syndrome and breathing and blood circulation insufficiency caused by the spontaneous pneumothorax. Frequently thoracotomy is performed after pleural drainage in cases of exudative pleuritis or starting pleural empyema. The postoperative period is marked by a large number of complications and prolongation of hospital stay, and post-operative mortality in the group of geriatric... [to full text]