[Video-thoracoscopy in the treatment of patients with penetrating wound of the thorax].

Thoracoscopic surgical procedures were used in the treatment of 79 patients with penetrating wound of the thorax complicated by hemothorax. Small hemothorax was diagnosed in 72.1% patients; 56.1% had injuries of thoracic organs, 26.3% -- injuries of diaphragm. Thoracoscopic hemostasis and correction of intrathoracic injuries were performed in 84,6% patients. Conversion to video-assisted minimally-invasive thoracotomy (because of injuries of the diaphragm as a rule) occurred in 15,8% patients, conversion to typical thoracotomy -- in 3.5%. In medium hemothorax (16.4% patients) injuries of thoracic organs and anatomic structures were diagnosed in 76.9% cases. Hemostasis and correction of intrathoracic injuries through thoracoscopic approach were performed in 43.8% patients, conversion to typical thoracotomy was necessary in 7% cases. Big hemothorax was diagnosed in 11.4% patients, 55.6% of them had injuries of thoracic organs and anatomic structures. Complete thoracoscopic procedure was performed in 44.4% cases; 33.3 patients required conversion to thoracotomy. Thoracoscopy is an effective method of surgical treatment of thoracic injuries in patients who don't require urgent thoracotomy. This procedure permits repair of intrathoracic injuries in 73.4% cases. Postoperative complications were seen in 15% cases, postoperative lethality was 1.4%.