[Videoassisted thoracoscopic treatment of retained fluid collection in the pleural cavity after thoracotomy].
BACKGROUND
One of the common complications of the thoracotomies is the formation of incapsulated fluid collections in the pleural cavity. There are different invasive methods for their treatment.


METHODS
The authors shared their experience with the videoassisted thoracoscopic treatment of 19 patients with pleural collections, treated in the clinic for a period of four years (2000-2003 year).


RESULTS
VATS at 17 of the patients leads to healing. We performed rethoracotomy at two of the patients because there were no effect of VATS.


CONCLUSIONS
VATS is an alternative of rethoracotomy in the operative treatment of postoperative fluid collections in the pleural cavity.
Uchikov
A
A
Nedev
P
P
Grigorov
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome