Uni-portal Thoracoscopic Exploration in Comparison to Exploratory Thoracotomy in Hemodynamically Stable Thoracic Trauma Patients

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has become a popular and acceptable method for diagnosis of intra-thoracic lesions since 1990s with the developments in surgical techniques. It is also used for treatment of retained pleural collections, it is a simple alternative to open thoracotomy. Although it's multiple advantages, timing of surgery and its effects on patients' results are not well elucidated. Multiple studies report that prognosis of patients is better with the earlier interventions in injured chest. However, there is so many differences for the optimal time for surgery in these studies .

Indications of VATS have been extended for management of diagnosis and treatment of chest trauma since 1990. This approach has multiple advantages as chest tube setting, minimally invasive surgery, less postoperative pain, and chest exploration. Today, VATS is used for empyema, persistent pneumothorax, retained haemothorax, mediastinal and diaphragmatic exploration, pleuro-pericardial ruptures, surgery for thoracic duct injury and aspiration of symptomatic foreign bodies.