RESECTION OF PULMONARY NODULES USING VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACIC-SURGERY

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the experience with vi deo-assisted thoracic surgery for the resection of pulmonary nodules. Methods. This voluntary registry (20 centers) included 388 patients wi th either benign (n = 171) or malignant (n = 217) pulmonary nodules. P ulmonary nodules were located using computed tomography scan-guided in jection of methylene blue (59 patients) and hook wire technique (17 pa tients). Results. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was converted into t horacotomy in 67 patients (17%) because of technical emergency in 4, i nability to complete resection in 33, and the need to perform lobectom y for cancer through thoracotomy in 30. In other patients, video-assis ted thoracic surgery allowed wedge resection in 300 cases and lobectom y in 21 cases. No intraoperative and two postoperative deaths (0.56%) occurred. The complication rate was 8% (n = 31). Mean durations of che st tube placement and hospital stay were 3.3 days (range, 1 to 20 days ) and 6 days (range, 1 to 25 days), respectively. Video-assisted thora cic surgery was judged by the surgeon to be a diagnostic procedure 226 times (58%) and a therapeutic procedure 162 times (42%). Conclusion. Video-assisted thoracic surgery appears to be safe and remains mainly a diagnostic procedure for malignant tumors.