[Thoracoscopy: the pediatric experience in Padua].

INTRODUCTION

Thoracoscopy is an important option in the treatment of many thoracic pathologies; its use in children, however, is still limited. We have retrospectively evaluated the thoracoscopic activity in our pediatric surgery department in the last six years.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy (VATS) has been routinely adopted in our institutions since 1997. The data of 115 patients who have undergone VATS were reviewed and analysed.

RESULTS

There were 47 males and 68 females. Mean age at surgery was 66.08 (SD: 58.23) months. Mean body weight at surgery was 21.85 (SD: 16.26) Kg. The patients were divided in four groups according to the pathologies: Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) (n = 95), Pleural Empyema (n = 14), Mediastinal Mass (n = 3) and Lung Disease (n = 3). Complicances were seen in two patients in the PDA group (one laryngeal nerve paralysis and one chylothorax) and one in the pleural empyema group (post-operative bleeding which required blood transfusion).

CONCLUSIONS

VATS can be performed safely and with minimal morbidity. In our experience, early and late complications turned out to be quite low. This survey would support on-going development of thoracoscopy in children.