Open AccessRemoval of a needle from the pleural space by video-assisted throcoscopy: An unusual encounter in practice
Author(s) -
Vijay Kumar Chennamchetty,
Jayasri Helen Gali,
Shekar Reddy Gurrala,
Nayantara Rao Gandra
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
lung india
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 0974-598X
pISSN - 0970-2113
DOI - 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_76_17
Subject(s) - medicine , pleural cavity , thoracotomy , thoracoscopy , foreign bodies , surgery , thoracic trauma , general surgery , radiology , blunt
Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), a minimally invasive surgical technique, has assumed a major role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of certain pleural and pulmonary parenchymal diseases. It is gaining popularity and being increasingly used in the management of thoracic trauma, thoracic surgeries, and pleural diseases. Another rare indication for its use, which is less reported in the literature, is the removal of retained intrathoracic foreign bodies. We report a case highlighting the use of VATS for the removal of retained sewing needle from the pleural cavity of a hemodynamically stable patient, thus evading the need for thoracotomy.