Conversion rates during video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy are reported, but no previous publications have classified the cause of conversion. The aim of the study was to develop a quality assessment tool [vascular, anatomy, lymph node, technical (VALT) 'Open'] to evaluate reasons and nature of conversion during the development of a video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy program. Between 20...

OBJECTIVES To determine if video assisted thoracic surgery is associated with better clinical outcomes than thoracotomy for three common procedures: surgery for pneumothorax, minor resections, and lobectomy. DESIGN Systematic review of randomised clinical trials. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Cochrane controlled trials register. Reference lists of re...

BACKGROUND Patients presenting upper gastrointestinal obstruction, difficulty or inability in swallowing, may need nutritional support which can be obtained through gastrostomy and jejunostomy. AIM To describe the methods of gastrostomy and jejunostomy video-assisted, and to compare surgical approaches for video-assisted laparoscopy and laparotomy in patients with advanced cancer of the esoph...

METHODS From October 1998 to December 2002 in the Department of Surgery at the University of Pisa, 16 patients ages 18 years or younger (14 girls, 87.5%, and 2 boys, 12.5%; range, 11 to 18; mean age, 15 years, 8 months) underwent a surgical operation with video-assisted technique for thyroid pathology. These patients belong to a larger group of 270 patients treated with this technique. Surgical...

Access from the right chest is generally easier. In this case however, the thymoma was predominantly left-sided and therefore a left-sided approach was preferred. The anesthetist places a double lumen tube to allow isolation of the required lung. The patient is placed with the chest elevated to an angle of around 30 degrees. This allows the plane between the sternum and thymus to be developed e...

INTRODUCTION Video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy is safe and feasible for lung cancer. We describe a case of video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy via a novel single intercostal space (SIC) three-port approach. CONCLUSIONS This case demonstrates that a SIC three-port thoracoscopic approach is effective in sleeve lobectomy, and possesses potential advantages in perioperative ...

A 79-year old male with lung nodules on chest computed tomography underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic-surgical middle lobe wedge resection, with pathology proven adenosquamous carcinoma. Repeat video-assisted thoracoscopic-surgical-biopsy was performed for recurrent disease. Subsequent staging computed tomography revealed herniation of the gallbladder through the abdominal wall (Figs 1 and 2...

The proven safety and efficacy of minimal access video-assisted thoracic surgery has changed the way that spontaneous pneumothorax is managed. This review presents some of the experiences of the decade, discusses the controversies and reviews the current video-assisted thoracic surgical management of spontaneous pneumothorax.