title: Experience with thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1995 to May 2002, 45 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobe resection. Ages ranged from 2 days to 18 years and weights from 2.8 to 78 kg. Preoperative diagnosis included sequestration/congenital adenomatoid malformation (n = 28), severe bronchiectasis (n = 12), congenital lobar emphysema (n = 3), and malignancy (n = 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three of 45 procedures were completed thoracoscopically. Operating times ranged from 35 minutes to 210 minutes (average, 125 minutes). There were 6 upper, one middle, and 38 lower lobe resections. There was one intraoperative complication (2.4%) requiring conversion to an open thoracotomy. Chest tubes were left in 38 of 45 patients for 1 to 3 days. Hospital stay ranged from 1 to 5 days (average 2.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracoscopic lung resection is a safe and efficacious technique. It helps avoid the inherent morbidity of a major thoracotomy incision and is associated with the same decrease in postoperative pain, recovery, and hospital stay as seen in minimally invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Hospital at Presbyterian/St Lukes, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, and the Children's Hospital, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007902:Length of Stay; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors