WHATS NEW IN GENERAL THORACIC-SURGERY

THIS FAST YEAR has seen a number of exciting new developments in the f ield of general thoracic surgery. The initial development and results of lung volume reduction surgery combined with improved results in pul monary transplantation have resulted in an increased interest in opera tions for generalized emphysema. Video-thoracoscopic approaches have b ecome fairly well standardized in the treatment of a number of disease s. This past year has shown significant developments in neoadjunctive therapy for patients with stage IIIA carcinoma of the lung as well as induction therapy for patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. A n increasing need for specialists in the field of general thoracic sur gery, associated with the declining cardiac surgical caseload, has res ulted in renewed interest in general thoracic surgery. These developme nts continue to make the subspecialty of general thoracic surgery an e xciting and growing field.