[Video thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery. An analysis of 303 consecutive cases]. / Videotoracoscopia y cirugía torácica videoasistida. Análisis de 303 casos consecutivos.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To present our experience in video thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery from November of 1991 until November of 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 303 endoscopic thoracic surgery procedures (210 males and 93 females with a mean age of 42.2 years) with the following indications 151 spontaneous pneumothorax, 51 pulmonary biopsies, 50 pulmonary nodules, 15 mediastinal tumors, 13 pleuroparietal tumors, 8 pericardial windows and 15 thoracic sympathectomies. RESULTS: Mean postoperative stay was of 5.5 days. The thoracotomy conversion was necessary in 32 cases (10.9%). The morbimortality has been one parietal recidive of a tumor in the way of one of the trocars and one death of a patient to who was accomplished a pulmonary biopsy by diffuse pneumopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The video thoracoscopy and thoracic surgery are effective and sure technical options for diagnosis and treatment of various thoracic affections.