[Thoracoscopic surgery]

Recent advances in endoscopic equipment and refinement of thoracoscopic techniques and increased experience with thoracoscopy have expanded the application of this procedure for lung cancer. Thoracoscopic treatment for malignant pleural effusion, sampling of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, wedge resection of the lung and thoracoscopic lobectomies and pneumonectomies have been reported in many institutes. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of performing major video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resections with less postoperative morbidity. This report describes present role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for early lung cancer.