THORACOSCOPY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 82  (4) , 425-428
Abstract
Poor results in the treatment of lung cancer led to the development of several techniques designed to obtain tissue for diagnosis and to determine the feasibility of resection. Although mediastinoscopy obtained great popularity, it is unsatisfactory because of the low yield of positive results and the attendant increases in length of operations and hospitalizations. The old technique of thoracoscopy was modified, using a sterilized sigmoidoscope inserted through an intercostal space with the patient positioned and prepared for thoracotomy. Although most frequently used in patients with lung cancer, this procedure was also helpful in patients with coin lesions, mediastinal tumors and penetrating wounds of the chest. Although mediastinoscopy is useful in selected patients, thoracoscopy offers a greater number of patients a reliable means of obtaining the proper diagnosis more efficiently.

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