Nd:YAG laser resection of lung cancer invading the airway as a bridge to surgery and palliative treatment.

Background: Thirty percent of patients with lung cancer have airway obstruction requiring palliation. In addition, endoscopic resection may be considered before surgery or induction therapy to improve quality of life and functional status, and to allow better staging. It may also help to prevent infectious complications during induction chemotherapy.

Parenchymal sparing operations for bronchogenic carcinoma.

By the end of the 1950s, the principles of tracheobronchial and pulmonary artery (PA) reconstruction had been established, and their successful clinical application had taken place. It was not until very recently, however, that these techniques aroused widespread interest among thoracic surgeons as a means to achieve complete cancer resection while preserving functioning lung parenchyma. At the present time, sleeve resection of the bronchus and/or PA has a definite role in the surgical management of lung cancer.

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for symptomatic arterial obstruction of the upper extremities.

Background: Severely symptomatic arterial insufficiency of the hand and upper extremities requires adequate treatment. Medical therapy and local care are usually unsuccessful, and thoracic sympathectomy can represent an effective procedure to control pain, to help ulcer healing, and to prevent or delay amputation.

Methods: We performed 20 thoracoscopic sympathectomies in 15 patients (13 men and 2 women) with upper extremity ischemia.

Bullectomy is comparable to lung volume reduction in patients with end-stage emphysema.

Objectives: Emphysema is one of the most prevalent disabling diseases, not modified by current medical treatment and physical rehabilitation. Lung transplantation is an effective clinical option in end-stage emphysema but it is available only for a limited number of patients. Bullectomy and lung volume reduction represent other surgical options to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in selected patients.