Giovanni Antonio Marsico, André Luiz de Almeida, Dirceo Edson de Azevedo, Gustavo Carvalho Venturini, Alexandre Edson de Azevedo, Paula dos Santos Marsico
J Bras Pneumol.2008;34(4):241-244
Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique. It is the procedure of choice for the treatment of certain lung
and pleural diseases. It has been increasingly used in the acute phase of thoracic trauma. Another indication for its use, which is rarely
described in the literature, is for the removal of retained intrathoracic foreign bodies. We report the cases of two hemodynamically stable
gunshot victims in whom the bullet was removed from the pleural cavity through video-assisted thoracoscopy, thereby avoiding the need
for thoracotomy.
Keywords: Thoracic injuries; Wounds, penetrating; Thoracic surgery, video-assisted; Foreign bodies.