[Thoracoscopic lung lobectomy: preliminary results in pediatric patients]

The objective of the present study consists of revising our initial experience with the use of thoracoscopic surgery for lung resections and their complications. Clinical histories and videos, from patients treated surgically at the Fundación Hospitalaria-Private Children Hospital and CEMIC Universitary Hospital from april 2005 to october 2008, were retrospectivelly estudied. Eleven female and 9 male patients were included. The median surgical time was 150 min (range: 60-270 min). The median time of chest tube permanence was 3 days (range: 2-10 days). Median hospital stay was 15 days (range: 3-29 days). It was concluded that thoracoscopic lung lobectomies are technically feasible and applicable to all paediatric ages; they should be considered as an alternative approach for trained groups.