Ml. Blank et Aa. Hassan, ENDOSCOPIC APPLICATIONS IN THORACIC-SURGERY - VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY, The American surgeon, 59(9), 1993, pp. 615-618
Twenty-eight cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were perfor
med in a 10-month period. Twenty-seven of the 28 cases were completed
without a standard thoracotomy. In one of the 28 cases, inadequate vis
ualization secondary to extensive adhesions necessitated conversion to
thoracotomy. There were no complications secondary to the video-assis
ted thoracotomy or video malfunction. Video-assisted thoracoscopic sur
gery provides the thoracic surgeon with advantages not enjoyed with st
andard thoracotomy and thoracoscopic techniques. These advantages incl
ude: decreased patient pain and recovery time, increased latitude of m
ovement for the surgeon, visualization by assistant and observers, adj
ustable magnification for close examination of pathology and still pho
to and video recording capabilities.