[Research on complications of thoracoscopic assisted thoracic spine surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze occurrence, prevention and treatment of the complications of thoracoscopic assisted spine surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 182 patients who underwent standard thoracoscopic technique or video-assisted thoracic surgical procedure from October 1998 to August 2004. The treatment of thoracic diseases included debridement, decompression with (or) reconstruction. The total number of complications were recorded, and its mechanism, prevention and treatment were analyzed.


RESULTS
Complications occurred in 16 patients, 12 cases of perioperative complications included 3 patients suffered from pneumonia, 3 pulmonary atelectasis, 2 patients' lung injured by trocar, 1 patient obtained transient monoplegia, 2 suffered from transient intercostal nerve pain and 1 had superficial incision infection. Long-term complications occurred in 4 cases: spinal tuberculosis relapsed 2 cases (one who had diabetes obtained relapse in 8 months of post-operation and another relapsed with complex spinal tuberculosis in 4 weeks postoperation), 2 patients suffered from kyphosis deformity and pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The type and incidence of complications with thoracoscopic spine surgery mainly depend on indication, operation procedures and anesthesia, only by limit surgical indication, ameliorate technique, obey surgical principle and consummate perioperative treatment can we obtain mini-invasive effect by thoracoscopic assisted spine surgery.
Wang
Bing
B
Department of Spinal Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central Southern University, Changsha 410011, China.
Lü
Guo-hua
GH
Ma
Ze-min
ZM
Li
Jing
J
Deng
You-wen
YW
Liu
Wei-dong
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*