Retrospective analysis of the utility of video-assisted thoracic surgery in 100 consecutive procedures.

One hundred consecutive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) procedures, diagnostic (n = 54) and therapeutic (n = 46), in 90 patients over a 2-year period are reviewed. Hospital mortality was 2%. Conversion to formal thoracotomy was required in 3%, and re-exploration for bleeding in 1%. Seven patients required intensive care unit facilities postoperatively. The technique described was safe and there was minimal postoperative morbidity. Diagnostic VATS was of particular use in cases of indeterminate pulmonary masses (Sensitivity of 96%), anterior mediastinal masses and in immunocompromised patients. Video-assisted thoracic surgery may now be the treatment of choice for recurrent pneumothoraces and it demonstrated potential for development in a variety of other benign thoracic disorders. This method had a limited role in the management of empyaema with a 60% conversion rate to formal thoracotomy. Pulmonary resections were feasible but its role in the treatment of malignancy is questioned.