THORACOSCOPIC LIMITED RESECTION OF BRONCHOGENIC-CARCINOMA IN PATIENTSOVER THE AGE OF 80

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has emerged as a minimally invasive therapy of bronchogenic carcinoma, when the diseases occur i n patients unable to tolerate open thoracotomy who are 80 years old or older. We report on an 80-year-old man with poor pulmonary function a nd an 83-year-old man, who were treated with a complete VATS resection of bronchogenic carcinoma. Mean chest tube duration of the two patien ts was one day and mean postoperative hospital stay was 7 days with an uncomplicated postoperative course. Compared with patients with open thoracotomy, there were early mobility, less morbidity, and less morta lity, We believe that when the indication for treatment of bronchogeni c carcinoma in patients over the age of 80 with concomitant systemic d isorders, a thoracoscopic limited resection should be considered.