Objective To investigate the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in the treatment of coagulated hemothorax.Methods A prospective randomized controlled study.Between July 2005 and July 2007,62 patients with coagulated hemothorax were enrolled in this study.The patients were randomly divided into VATS and traditional thoracotomy groups(31 in each).The pathophysiological parameters of the two grups were compared.Results No significant difference in the sex,age,property and location of the wound,and rate of complicated injuries was noticed between the two groups.The mean operation time,duration of postoperative drainage,and postoperative hospital stay of the VATS group were significantly shorter than those in the traditional group [(52.1?24.4)min vs(120.2?47.2)min,t=-7.136,P=0.000;(1.7?0.7)d vs(4.8?1.8)d,t=-8.937,P=0.000;and(12.6?2.4)d vs(18.0?8.9)d,t=-3.262,P=0.002;respectively];and the mean intraoperative blood loss and the volume of thoracic drainage of the VATS group were significantly lower than those in the traditional group [(137.1?14.6)ml vs(203.2?53.4)ml,t=-6.648,P=0.000;and(181.3?37.9)ml vs(253.9?64.0)ml,t=-5.435,P=0.000,respectively].No significant difference in the rate of complications existed between the two groups(0 vs 1 case,?2=0.000,P=0.000).Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopy is feasible and safe for coagulated hemothorax and is worth being widely used.

Objective To investigate the effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery( VATS) in thoracic disease,and the feasibility to carry out VATS for basic hospital. Methods The data of VATS treatment were collected to compare the differences between study group and control group,and evaluate the the feasibility to carry out VATS for basic hospital. Results The operation time was (100. 75±22. 72) min, blood loss was (54. 27±26. 21) mL,postoperative drainage was (920. 67±171. 99) mL. The postoperative complications were fewer,post-operative hospital stay was shorter,incision time was shorter(P=0. 000) and pain scores was lower(P=0. 000) in study group than that in control group. Basic hospital has the capacity to conduct this technical. Conclusion VATS is feasible to carry out in basic hospital.