Experience of Video-Assisted Chest Surgery at Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo University Hospital in Neiva

Abstract

Given that video-assisted thorax surgery (VATS) of patients having intrathoracic surgical pathology has had repercussion for them at university hospital in Neiva, it was carried out a retrospective review of cases using this technique, from October 20006 to May, 2010. It was found that 169 patients underwent VATS, the most frequent etiologies are those of the pleural space like infectious empyemas and coagulated hemothorax. Likewise it was performed thoracoscopies as a surgical approach for lung resection, mediastinal pathology management and diagnosis of diaphragm injury in patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma. Intraoperative bleeding rates, complications and reinterventions were similar to other previously reported, an increase in bronco-pleural fistulas was found in patients that underwent VATS for lung resections who require further management in second surgical procedure with thoracotomy. A 15% of the patients required intensive care unit and it was related to the patients considered as American Society of Anesthesiologists III (ASA III) and ASA IV who in general showed 2 or more associated comorbidities.  Mortality in patients that had VATS was directly proportional to the preoperative risk classification according to ASA scale, lower in patients ASA III and higher in patients ASA IV. Mortality and morbidity were not present for the kind of surgical approach but for the illness and comorbidity associated in patients who underwent VATS.