title: Minimally invasive lung and pleural biopsies using 2-mm and standard thoracoscopic equipment.
abstract: Videoendoscopic surgery is commonly used to obtain a definitive diagnosis in a patient with pleural lesions or pulmonary infiltration of unknown etiology. We have performed minimally invasive pleural and lung biopsies, using 2-mm mini-videoscopic instruments supported by standard thoracoscopy via one 11.5-mm port, in 10 patients. These involved 8 patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltration, and two with diffuse pleural thickening. They underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection and pleural biopsy using one 11.5-mm port and two or three 2-mm mini-ports. The mean operating time was 37 minutes. This procedure was successful in establishing a definitive diagnosis in each patient. Complications included subacute acceleration in pulmonary infiltration in one patient. No patient complained of pain or discomfort at the 2 mm-thoraco port sites. Healing of this port site resulted in excellent cosmesis. Mini-videoscopic surgery supported by standard thoracoscopic equipment can be used to perform lung or pleural biopsy less invasively than standard thoracoscopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Shimizu City Hospital, 1231 Miyagami, Shimizu City, Shizuoka 424-8636, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyoshima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D020708:Thoracoscopes / Q000592:standards*