[Emergency surgery making use of video-assisted thoracoscopy--2 case reports]

We recently experienced two emergency operating cases using video-assisted thoracoscopy. First case was a 17-year-old male with foreign body and pneumothorax in the right thorax. He was emergencilly treated by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The operation was carried out using double-lumen endotracheal anesthesia. Short trocars were inserted through the right intercostal spaces to introduce a flexible video thoracoscope and surgical instruments. Foreign body was looked for easily and removed out. Second case was a 22-year-old male with hemo-pneumothorax at the right side. He was treated using video-assisted thoracoscopy emergencilly. Bleeding point was searched and hemostasis was done by the electrical mess and the clip. Bulla was removed out with surgical instruments. These were good adaptation of emergency operation using video-assisted thoracoscope. The advantages of this thoracoscopic surgery are: less operative invasion and postoperative pain, early recovery and short hospital stay, and cosmetic preservation.