Thoracoscopic procedures in children.

Although thoracoscopy was initially reported in 1910, the first specific report in children came in 1976. Over the past 15 years, reports from a small number of institutions have described experience with this technique. For the past 2 years, as pediatric surgeons have become involved with minimally invasive abdominal surgery, there has been renewed interest in the application of endoscopy for thoracic disorders in children, the most common indication for thoracoscopy is evaluation of mediastinal masses. Other common indications include evaluation of localized or diffuse pneumonia, management of pleural diseases such as refractory empyema, and management of recurrent pneumothorax, with either pleurodesis or excision of subpleural blebs.