title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for penetrating thoracic trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For penetrating thoracic trauma, there is no consensus on whether operative exploration or conservative treatment is better. In this study, we compared the clinical effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy on the patients with penetrating thoracic trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to December 2010, 123 patients with penetrating thoracic trauma were treated in Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University. Based on the inclusion criteria, 80 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned into VATS and thoracotomy group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation time, amount of bleeding and drainage in VATS group were all lower than traditional operation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that VATS has the merits of shorter operation time, non-blind area, exact surgical path and less bleeding comparing with traditional operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu 610081, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yue-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Xue-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*