[The diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of thoracoscopy in thoracic surgery]

Within a decade, the authors performed 484 thoracoscopies in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, open and closed thoracic trauma, pleuritis, pleural empyema. High diagnostic possibilities of the method permitted to choose a rational therapeutic tactics. In 228 cases, different endothoracic interventions under the guidance of a thoracoscope were performed. With the use of thoracoscopy, diathermocoagulation, laser and ultrasound irradiation were performed, medical glue was introduced. This permitted in most cases to eliminate intrapleural injuries and achieve stable smoothing of a lung.