Videothoracoscopic surgery. Discussion

Although thoracoscopy has been used for diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures for many years, there have been few reports of its use in performing major intrathoracic procedures which have traditionally required formal thoracotomy. We report our initial experience in this field. Fifty patients (M:F = 1.63:1, mean ± SD age = 41.8 ± 20.4 years, range = 14-80) underwent 54 endoscopic intrathoracic operations. The procedures carried out included wedge excision of solid pulmonary mass (10), pleurectomy (25), lung biopsy (14), and miscellaneous procedures (5). Under general anaesthesia a laparoscope attached to a video monitor was introduced into the chest. One or two additional stab incisions were made as needed for the introduction of standard surgical or endoscopic instruments and staplers. There were no deaths