title: [Video thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery. An analysis of 303 consecutive cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present our experience in video thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery from November of 1991 until November of 1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  303 endoscopic thoracic surgery procedures (210 males and 93 females with a mean age of 42.2 years) with the following indications: 151 spontaneous pneumothorax, 51 pulmonary biopsies, 50 pulmonary nodules, 15 mediastinal tumors, 13 pleuroparietal tumors, 8 pericardial windows and 15 thoracic sympathectomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean postoperative stay was of 5.5 days. The thoracotomy conversion was necessary in 32 cases (10.9%). The morbimortality has been: one parietal recidive of a tumor in the way of one of the trocars and one death of a patient to who was accomplished a pulmonary biopsy by diffuse pneumopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The video thoracoscopy and thoracic surgery are effective and sure technical options for diagnosis and treatment of various thoracic affections.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Callejas Pérez
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Baldó Padró
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canalís Arrayás
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belda Sanchis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catalán Biel
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gimferrer Garolera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014741:Video Recording / Q000706:statistics & numerical data