ISSN:
1432-2218
Keywords:
Key words: VATS — Staging of extrathoracic tumors — Peripheral pulmonary lesions
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: This prospective study was conducted to investigate the value of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for staging and therapy of thoracic tumors. Methods: VATS was performed in 86 patients presenting peripheral pulmonary nodules. Indications for thoracoscopy included diagnosis of indeterminated pulmonary lesions (n= 55), staging of disseminated disease (n= 24), and therapeutic interventions (n= 7). Previous or simultaneous tumors belonged to gastrointestinal tract (n= 27), sarcoma (n= 19), breast (n= 12), and miscellaneous. VATS was carried out under general anesthesia using double lumen intubation. Results: VATS was successfully performed in 78% of patients. It was converted in 19 patients (22%) because of adhesions (n= 12), technical problems (n= 3), and lesions not to be found (n= 4). VATS revealed malignancy in 81% and benign lesions in 19%. Additional information compared to conventional staging was obtained in 48%, resulting in therapeutic consequences in 34% of the patients. Postoperative complications related to VATS were observed in nine patients. Conclusions: In this study, VATS proved to be a sensitive technique for staging of pulmonary lesions. Thoracoscopic wedge resection may have significant impact on the operative management of carefully selected patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004649900613
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