ObjectiveTo explore clinical outcomes of simutaneous video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for bilateral giant bullae (GB). MethodsClinical data of 160 GB patients who received surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2011 to April 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to GB location and surgical strategies, all the patients were divided into 3 groups. In group A, there were 108 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and unilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection with VATS, including 88 male and 20 female patients with their age of 31.36±16.14 years. In group B, there were 40 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection in the SP side with VATS, including 36 male and 4 female patients with their age of 37.63±18.84 years. In group C, there were 12 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent simultaneous bilateral GB resection with VATS, including 9 male and 3 female patients with their age of 32.58±16.06 years. Postoperative morbidity and SP recurrence rates were analyzed. ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed, and patients were followed up for 20 months after discharge. In group A, postoperative complications included acute pulmonary edema in 1 patient, pleural adhesion in 11 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients, and pulmonary air leak in 5 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 5 patients including 2 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 3 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group B, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 4 patients, respiratory failure in 1 patient, and pulmonary air leak in 3 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 18 patients including 3 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 15 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group C, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 2 patients and pulmonary air leak in 1 patient. During follow-up, SP recurred in 1 patient at the same side of thorax. SP recurrence rates of group A and C were significantly lower than that of group B (P=0.000 and P=0.031 respectively). ConclusionSimultaneous VATS is safe, efficacious and reliable for the treatment of bilateral GB, and can effectively prevent SP recurrence at the other side of thorax.