[Video-assisted thoracoscopy in diagnosis and therapy of intrathoracic diseases]

Video-assisted thoracoscopy has become an important adjunct to traditional thoracic surgical techniques for the diagnosis and therapy of numerous intrathoracic diseases. It has developed to the procedure of choice for patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, indeterminate peripheral lung nodule, diffuse lung disease, pleural disease and effusion and is a valuable alternative to traditional thoracotomy for various indications like the resection of benign intrathoracic tumors and cysts. Although video-assisted thoracoscopy is not recommended for curative therapy of malignancies, it can be useful for the diagnosis, staging and palliation of malignant disease. Video-assisted thoracoscopy should be performed only by surgeons with sufficient experience in thoracic surgery in institutions where adequate prerequisites are available. The clinical impact of video-assisted thoracoscopy is documented by the fact that in centers approximately 20 to 30% of all thoracic surgical procedures currently are performed with this new technique.