Abstract
A retrospective analysis was made of the records of 10 patients who underwent pulmonary resection by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery between April 1996 and January 1997. Five patients were referred with incidental findings of a lung mass. The other presenting symptoms were hemoptysis, chronic cough, and chest pain. The pulmonary lesions ranged in size from 1 to 5 cm in diameter, mean 3.3 cm. Video-assisted thoracoscope surgery comprised 7 lobectomies, 2 wedge resections, and 1 pneumonectomy. No postoperative complications were detected. Postoperative hospital stay averaged 7.8 days. We recommended using this procedure for pulmonary resection when indicated on selected patients, with an awareness of cost-effectiveness.
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