[Video-endoscopic interventions in thoracic surgery]

Between October and December 1991 we performed videoendoscopic procedures, including resection of lung tissue, on 9 patients in our thoracic surgery unit. A lung measuring 15 x 18 was extirpated in 1 patient and parietal pleurectomy was performed after complicated pneumothorax in 4 patients. In one of these cases it was necessary to close a parenchymal leak and in 3 cases bullae had to be removed. Resection was undertaken in 4 patients for peripheral lung nodules, in one of them for metastases. Two patients proceeded to conventional lobectomy immediately after the frozen section results came through. Closure of lung parenchyma was carried out by means of the new ENDO-GIA stapler. Duration of the procedure was less than one hour except in the case of one patient. In one case it was necessary to use three cannulae. In the other cases two cannulae (one for videoendoscopy and fixating instrument, one for preparation instrument and stapler) sufficed for the operation to be undertaken without difficulty. This new technique brings all the known advantages of minimal invasive intervention to patients requiring thoracic surgery.