Clinical experience of single port VATS procedure in treatment of thoracic disease

Abstract

Objective Summarize the experience of single port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SPVATS).Evaluate the value of SPVATS for thoracic diseases.Methods 32 patients underwent SPVATS from March 2011 to May 2011,including 28 males and4 females,with an average age of (26.5 ±9.2) years (ranged 18-72 years).There were twenty-seven cases of spontaneous pneumothorax ( including 2 cases of single stage bilateral surgery),three cases of unknown pleural effusion,one case of bilateral pulmonary nodules,and one case of pulmonary metastasis tumor.Results All procedures were successfully accomplished without conversion to conventional multi-port VATS or open approach.There was no major complication or operative death.All procedures were using self-developed specialized surgical instruments and two-incision joint protection.The procedures inluded resection of lung bullae in 27 cases,purulent drainage fiber stripping pleural lavage in 3,parietal pleural biopsy in 1,and pulmonary wedge resection in 1.The operating time ranged from (22.0 ± 9.5 ) min.The average intraoperative blood loss was ( 14.5 ± 8.8 )ml.The mean chest tube duration was (3.1 ± 0.6 ) days.The average postoperative hospital stay was (6.8 ± 1.6 ) days.Conclusion SPVATS is a new approach for treatment of thoracic diseases.This technique is preferred as a minimally invasive and cosmetic procedure with decreased operative time,quickened postoperative recovery,few complications,and satisfactory short-term outcome. Key words: Thoracic diseases ; Thoracoscopy ; Single port