Abstract
Practical experience with the miniinvasive laparoscopic technique in abdominal surgery logically led to extension of this method to thoracic surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic operations hold their place in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax, pleural syndrome, benign tumours of the thoracic wall etc.
A curative solution of malignant diseases by this route is so far controversial and is reserved only for specially defined cases. Experience from the authors' department is based on nine-month use of a thoracoscopic apparatus.
The authors operated a total of 21 patients thoracoscopically, incl. pneumothorax 6x, fluidothorax 10x and tumourous disease of the lungs or mediastinum 5x. The use of thoracoscopy is controversial in metastases of the lungs and in thymectomy.
With regard to the authors are against thoracoscopic indications in the latter conditions contemporary technical possibilities.