[Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Chest Trauma]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Context:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is increasingly utilized in emergency settings for chest trauma management.
• This study encompasses 33 chest trauma surgeries performed between October 2009 and July 2023.
• Common injury mechanisms include traffic accidents, falls, and penetrating trauma.

Purpose:

• To report surgical policies and techniques for managing chest trauma using VATS.
• To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of VATS in thoracic injuries.
• To describe the combined direct and thoracoscopic approach for complex repairs.

Summary:

• VATS was employed in all 33 chest trauma cases, identifying injury sites and guiding treatment.
• Procedures included managing rib fractures, pulmonary injuries, and diaphragmatic tears.
• Unusual procedures involved hematoma and pericardial drainage, and managing intrathoracic bleeding.

Impact:

• VATS facilitates accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of diverse chest trauma injuries.
• The described techniques, combining direct and thoracoscopic views, optimize repair of lung and diaphragm injuries.
• This approach enhances surgical outcomes for patients with thoracic trauma.