Role of thoracoscopy in acute management of chest injury.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of intrathoracic injuries.


RESULTS
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a relatively recent innovation. It was originally promoted for the treatment of retained hemothorax and the diagnosis of diaphragm injury. It is highly effective for the management of those problems. Recent studies have focused on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for treatment of chest wall bleeding, diagnosis of transmediastinal injuries, pericardial window and persistent pneumothorax. In properly selected patients, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is extremely efficacious in managing these problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the management of acute chest injury is expanding. It is an invaluable tool for the trauma surgeon.
Casós
Steven R
SR
Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.
Richardson
J David
JD
D000075202:Contraindications; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000293:injuries; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery