Resumen

SCHONFFELDT, Karen et al. Video assisted thoracic surgery in thoracic trauma. Rev. argent. cir. [online]. 2018, vol.110, n.2, pp.106-108. ISSN 2250-639X.

The objective is to discuss the use of video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in thoracic trauma and to review the most common indications. A young male with a hemothorax due to penetrating trauma is seen at the emergency department. Initial management with a pleural tube revealed persistence of bleeding so surgical exploration was performed. A lesion of the internal thoracic artery was found and controlled with VATS using laparoscopic clips. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged home on the third day posterior to surgery. Usually, surgical management of thoracic trauma has been thoracotomy, but minimally invasive procedures have gained terrain in this area thanks to their lower morbility. Some benefits of these are less postoperative pain, less bleeding, and shorter surgical time. Its validated indications include retained hemothorax and persistent bleeding, but only if the patient is hemodinamically stable and cardiac or large vessel lesions are not suspected. As a conclussion, VATS is an appropriate technique for selected cases of traumatic hemothorax, but thoracotomy still remains as the prefered surgical approach.

Palabras clave : Thoracic trauma; VATS; Videothoracoscopy.