[Clinical application of thoracoscopic surgery: a report of 19 cases]

Nineteen cases (14 males and 5 females) had been operated with thoracoscopic surgery. Ten cases of spontaneous pneumothorax and 1 spontaneous hemopneumothorax had been underwent thoracoscopic bullous or bleb resections by Endo-GIA 30 or 60. Four cases of plural effusion including primary and secondary malignancies were performed to be pleurodesis by talc sclerosis. Among 4 cases of lung mass, 3 were operated by wedge resection. Lobectomy was performed by VATS in one case with primary lung cancer (T1N0). VATS were satisfactory by using the 3 small incisions giving the advantage of rapid and complete recovery without any obvious complications. Even no any secondary pneumonia. So far the VATS is not fully accepted in China due to the cost of the disposable instruments.