[Thoracoscopy in surgery of thoracic wounds]

One hundred and sixty-eight thoracoscopic operations were performed in patients with closed (47.5%) and open (52.5%) trauma of the chest. Thoracoabdominal injuries were diagnosed in 23.9% patients. Thoracoscopic surgeries were performed in 79.8% patients, surgeries from the mini-approach - in 17.3%. Injuries uncorrectable by endosurgically were diagnosed during thoracoscopy in 2.9% patients. Indications for urgent thoracoscopy in thoracic injuries are the following: 1) middle and small hemothorax or hemopneumothorax; 2) suspicion for heart wound; 3) suspicion for diaphragm injury; 4) tense pneumothorax. Surgical policy and technique of endosurgeries in open thoracic trauma are optimized. Up-to-date surgical policy based on thoracoscopy permitted us to improve results of surgical treatment: to reduce lethality by 4.7%, number of complications - 2.9 times and completely avoid unjustified 'diagnostic' thoracotomies. Mini-invasive surgical methods promoted early rehabilitation of patients with trauma of the chest.