title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the pleural cavity.
abstract: Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique. It is the procedure of choice for the treatment of certain lung and pleural diseases. It has been increasingly used in the acute phase of thoracic trauma. Another indication for its use, which is rarely described in the literature, is for the removal of retained intrathoracic foreign bodies. We report the cases of two hemodynamically stable gunshot victims in whom the bullet was removed from the pleural cavity through video-assisted thoracoscopy, thereby avoiding the need for thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Andaraí General Hospital/Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. marsicog@gbl.com.br
authors.forename: Giovanni Antonio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.forename: André Luiz de
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Dirceo Edson de
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Gustavo Carvalho
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Alexandre Edson de
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Paula Dos Santos
authors.initials: Pdos S
authors.lastname: Marsico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035422:Pleural Cavity; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*