[The thoracoscopic use of the CO2 laser in the combined treatment of pleural empyema].

A new method for treating acute pneumothorax with a bronchopleural fistula was experimentally developed and clinically tested. It is based on thoracoscopic use of CO2 laser radiation. The laser beam energy is employed for evaporation of necrotic tissues in the area of pulmonary destruction, "welding" of the bronchopulmonary fistulae, and general irradiation of the empyema cavity with a defocused beam. Nineteen patients with various disease duration were treated. In 16 patients the bronchial fistulae and the empyema cavity were eliminated and the lung re-expanded. The purulent inflammation in the pleural cavity was acute in these cases.