[Emergency video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intrathoracic foreign bodies]

The aim of this retrospective study is to highlight the advantages of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the assessment of thoracic trauma. In the past 4 years 3 patients had intrapleural or intrapulmonary Kirschner needles which penetrated from the site of a previous humeroscapular osteosynthesis and one patient with a gunshot projectile and haemothorax in the left thorax. They were treated by VATS removal of intrathoracic foreign bodies. No complications developed postoperatively, the chest wall pain was minimal, the duration of hospital stay (3-5 days) and recovery was short. The widespread use of minimal invasive VATS procedure is an alternative approach that provides safe and less invasive operation for acute chest trauma patients. We believe that its extended use for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes even in some special circumstances is justified today.