Video-assisted thoracoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the pleural cavity

Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique. It is the procedure of choice for the treatment of certain lung and pleural diseases. It has been increasingly used in the acute phase of thoracic trauma. Another indication for its use, which is rarely described in the literature, is for the removal of retained intrathoracic foreign bodies. We report the cases of two hemodynamically stable gunshot victims in whom the bullet was removed from the pleural cavity through video-assisted thoracoscopy, thereby avoiding the need for thoracotomy.