Technical problems and complications in major videoendoscopic pulmonary resections

From Oct. '91 to Dec. '93, 310 thoracoscopic procedures were performed in our Department of General Surgery: in this group 60 major pulmonary resections were carried out.The series included three pneumonectomies and 57 Iobectomies. The criteria for major videothoracoscopic pulmonaqry operations were 1) benign pulmonary diseases 2) pulmonary metastasis non removable by wedge resection 3) primary lung cancer at stage I. 67 underwent thoracoscopic surgery with the intent to perform a major pumonary resection, but 7 pts required conversion to thoracotomy, for absent fissure and for bleeding. Fifty-one patients had short post-operative course, without any problems. Nine patients had prolonged air leakage and one of them was also complicated by bronchial fistula. No intra-operative or post-operative death.