Thoracoscopy in the evaluation and management of thoracic trauma

Video-thoracoscopy was used to evaluate and manage patients after thoracic trauma, It was used in 29 patients. Indications included retained hemothora x in 16 patients, empyema in 11, evaluation for the source of thoracic blee ding in 1, and an airleak in 1, The mechanism of injury was blunt trauma in 8 cases, 10 with stab wounds, and 11 with gunshot wounds. In blunt trauma, thoracoscopy was carried out an average of 11.7 days post injury, chest tu bes were removed after an average of 7 days post thoracoscopy, and discharg e averaged 10.7 days after thoracoscopy, The failure rate was 12.5% with no mortality. In stab wounds, it was carried out an average of 8.8 days post injury, chest tube removal occurred after 6.1 days, and discharge averaged 7.8 days after thoracoscopy, The failure rate was 20% with no mortality. In gunshot wounds, it was carried out an average of 7.5 days after injury, ch est tubes were removed after 9.9 days, and discharge averaged 16 days post thoracoscopy, The failure rate was 9% with a mortality of 9%, Overall, the failure rate for thoracoscopy was 13.8% (4/29), The mortality rate was 3.5% (1/29), It was successfully performed-up to 30 days post injury. It proved to be effective in the management of empyema, evacuation of clotted hemoth orax, and diagnosis of ongoing thoracic bleeding.