Diagnostic mini-video assisted thoracic surgery. Effectiveness and accuracy of new generation 2.0 mm instruments.
OBJECTIVE
Recently 2.0 mm mini-VATS has aroused much interest among surgeons involved with endoscopic surgery. We report our initial experience with the first first 54 patients who underwent this procedure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of mini-VATS.


METHODS
54 patients were undertaken to mini-VATS for diagnostic purposes. Patients were randomly selected and the indication for operation was set by the classic VATS criteria. 35 (65%) patients were treated under general anesthesia, while 19 (35%) patients were treated under local anesthesia.


RESULTS
The average length of hospital stay was 1.8 +/- 0.9 days. The days of requirement for narcotic analgesia were 1.9 +/- 1.0. Diagnostic accuracy was 100%; morbidity and mortality rates were 0%.


CONCLUSIONS
The high diagnostic accuracy and low operative danger, combined with less postoperative pain, due to minor surgical trauma and faster patient recovery, has established mini-VATS as a dynamic competitor to the classic VATS procedure. Since high technology is a strong partner in endoscopic surgery, a strong potentiality for evolution exists.
2nd Thoracic Surgery Department, 'Sotiria' Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece. LAZOPOULOSG@ATH.FORTHNET.GR
G
G
Lazopoulos
C
C
Kotoulas
J
J
Kokotsakis
C
C
Foroulis
A
A
Lioulias
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003949:Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome