Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Several Diseases of Thoracic Surgery in 1412 Patients

Abstract

Bauckground: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is applied in the almost diseases of Thoracic Surgery in the world, and became a standard approach that the patients enthusiastically hope, because VATS can reduce the invasion of operation, the duration of hospitalization and aesthetically satisfy in all patients. We retrospectively reviewed our recent experience with VATS to define its role in the context of current surgical practice. Method: Between January 1999 and December 2015, 1209 patients at Pyongyang medical college hospital, Kim Il Sung university with Hyperhidrosis, kakidrosis, Raynaud’s disease, pleurisy in 1 st stage and pneumothorax were treated with the use of VATS. 203 patients with pleurisy in 2 nd , 3 rd stage and pneumothorax, empyema, haemothorax, lung cancer, mediastinal tumor, lung tuberculoma, lung cystoma and esophageal cancer were treated with MITS (Mini-Invasion Thoracoscopic Surgery). Result: VATS was successful in achieving satisfied effects in the patients with hyperhidrosis, empyema, pneumothorax, mediastinal tumor, lung tuberculoma, lung cystoma and esophageal cancer. In 42 patients with kakidrosis VATS failed to treat and symptom recurred. In one patient with pleurisy died postoperatively, two patient experienced empyema. Conclusions: In our experience the operation approach with the use of VATS was safe and effective in the surgical treatment of several thoracic diseases. The rate of complication is low and the level of pain is acceptable without long-term sequelae.