title: Clinical experience with minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
abstract: From October 1991 to June 1992 video-endoscopic lung surgery was applied in a total of 109 patients. In the first case a pulmonary cyst measuring 15 x 18 cm was resected. In 21 patients lung nodules were exstirpated by means of wedge resection. Moreover, metastasectomies, open lung biopsies, parietal pleurectomies, resections of bullae, and decortications, as well as 3 lower-lobe lobectomies were performed using video-endoscopic procedures. Closure of lung parenchyma was carried out using the 3 cm Endo-GIA stapler (Autosuture). In none of the patients were we forced to enlarge the intervention to a thoracotomy because of technical problems. Indications, operative technique and results are presented. This new technique offers all the known advantages of minimally invasive surgery to patients requiring thoracic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery 2, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kandioler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eckersberger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolner
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013690:Television / Q000295:instrumentation; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data