Endoscopic applications in thoracic surgery: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Twenty-eight cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were performed in a 10-month period. Twenty-seven of the 28 cases were completed without a standard thoracotomy. In one of the 28 cases, inadequate visualization secondary to extensive adhesions necessitated conversion to thoracotomy. There were no complications secondary to the video-assisted thoracotomy or video malfunction. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery provides the thoracic surgeon with advantages not enjoyed with standard thoracotomy and thoracoscopic techniques