Study on the role of diagnosis and treatment of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) under one-pleurectomy in pleural effusion

Objective To investigate early diagnosis and treatment methods of anetiological pleural effusion and to prevent complications.Methods From October 1997 to December 1999,18 patients with pleural effusions and 9 patients with lung cancer associated with malignant pleural effusion were treated by video-assisted thoracic surgery.Results The 18 patients with anetiological pleural effusion were correctly diagnosed and treated.One of the 9 patients with lung cancer was operated on.All of the patients had one-pleurectomy.No death occurred.The 27 cases were followed-up to December 1999.Pleural effusion was effectively controlled after operation.Eight patients died of other reactions.Conclusion VATS is advantages in terms of minor injury,early correct diagnosis,and improved quality of life and prolonged survival time.