title: [Videoassisted thoracoscopic treatment of retained fluid collection in the pleural cavity after thoracotomy].
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchikov
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nedev
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grigorov
mesh_terms: 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