THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THORACOSCOPIC LUNG-BIOPSY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Thoracoscopic techniques were used to perform lung biopsies and limite d resections in 36 consecutively treated cases. Biopsies were performe d for interstitial lung disease in 27 cases, presumed metastatic lesio ns in 5, and cavitary lesions in 4. Histological diagnosis was obtaine d in 35 of the 36 cases, and therapy was directly affected by the resu lts in 30 of 36 cases. There were no postoperative complications, and the average hospital stay for patients admitted the morning of surgery was less than 2 days. Limited thoracoscopic resection provides a safe and effective means for diagnosing and treating parenchymal disease o f the lung. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company