OBJECTIVES This meta-analysis aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with open thoracotomy for propensity score-matched patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Four relevant studies with propensity score-matched patients were identified from six electronic databases. Endpoints included perioperative mortality and mor...

Thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for large retrosternal goiters. These tumors often are enough to require thoracotomy. Robotic surgery can help in avoiding thoracotomy and its associated post operative complications. Rarely, such their be complicated by tracheal tears. Such tears, especially those near carina difficult repair open We described a case where we avoided instead performed m...

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is an appealing alternative to open lobectomy via thoracotomy for non-small-cell lung cancer. However, there is no clear consensus in regard to the superior approach for long-term outcomes. The data are limited to small series, which precludes further clarification. Meta-analysis of these studies was performed in order to obtain a more objective ...

This retrospective study was designed to compare the contribution of the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open thoracotomy in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). The medical records of 100 patients with recurring or persisting (SP) treated were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: group I treated by thoracotomy while in group II (VATS) was used. There...

We sometimes run across difficulty in dissection of the pulmonary arteries due to dense pleural adhesions and bleeding from the pulmonary artery during the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. In these cases, conversion of the VATS approach to open thoracotomy is a requisite. The presence of an easy and safe technique for pulmonary artery clamping will make the switch of the s...

BACKGROUND VATS has become a preferred method for benign surgical conditions, yet still remains controversial for malignancies. The purpose of this study was to review our results of pulmonary metastasectomies using both conventional open thoracotomy and VATS techniques. METHODS This is a retrospective chart review of pulmonary metastasectomies performed from 1986 to 2006. The surgical approa...