title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic management for emphysema associated with contralateral destroyed lung.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery can be quite challenging in condition that contralateral lung has no function. We report 3 cases of emphysema associated with contralateral destroyed lung managed with the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2007 to December 2008, 3 patients of emphysema associated with contralateral destroyed lung were operated on by VATS. There were two pulmonary wedge resections and mechanical pleurodesises for pneumothorax and one lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) for worsening dyspnea. Their records were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No postoperative mortality was observed. One case for pneumothorax experienced prolonged postoperative air leakage. Of all the three cases, two cases for pneumothorax had no recurrence and one case for worsening dyspnea had improved lung function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS for emphysema associated with contralateral destroyed lung is feasible in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China; ; Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510520, China; ; Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hanzhang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weiqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
keywords: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS); emphysema; lung volume reduction; pneumothorax