[Diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies of the thoracic cavity using thoracoscopy]

The author analysed the use of thoracoscopy in 12 patients with radiopaque and radiolucent foreign bodies in the pleural cavity, lung, mediastinum, myocardium, and diaphragm. The indications for the examination were specified: (1) foreign body in the pleural, cavity or its existence suspected; (2) indistinct character of an intrathoracic foreign body and injury inflicted by it to the viscera; (3) specification of surgical tactics and method for removal of the foreign body and rational surgical approach. Thoracoscopy made it possible to detect not only foreign bodies of different character, but the damages caused by them to the viscera, and the complications. Foreign bodies were removed during thoracoscopy in two thirds of cases.