[Video-assisted thoracoscopy in treatment of pleural empyema]

The experience of treatment for 609 patients with empyema of the pleura with the use of videothoracoscopy technique has been summarized. 436 (71.6%) patients were at stage 1 of the disease, 126 (20.7%)--stage 2 and 47 (7.7%)--stage 3. All complications of intrapleural bleedings arisen in 3 (0.5%) patients, have been controlled through thoracoscope. There were no postoperative complications. Transformation of videothoracoscopic operation into the open one has been required in 11 (1.8%) patients: in 4--due to extensive destruction of the lung tissues, in 4--due to atelectasis of the lung, and in 3--because of the danger of endoscopical injury to the mediastinal organs. Feasibility of videothoracoscopic decortication of the lung and pleurectomy at stage 3 of chronic empyema of the pleura was demonstrated. 37 (78.7%) patients were cured by this method.