Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery is began to be used in 1990's. It has become a preffered procedure in many thoracic conditions. Pleural biopsies, pulmonary resections, esophageal procedures can applies with VATS.

Between 1995 to 1998 VATS was performed to 22 cases that applied with undiagnosed exudative pleuraf effusion. 12 of the case where men and others were women. Average age 60.2 years. VATS findings, procedures, clinically and pathologically results were investigated prospectively and reported. VATS has been performed for pleural effusion for diagnosis and treatment. These included 5 paranchimal, 19 parietal pleural, 5 visceral pleural, 1 lymph node and 1 pericardial biopsies and 5 pleural abrasions, 3 decortications, 2 pleurodesis, 1 mediastinal cyst excision and 1 removing germinate membrane for hydatid cyst. Thoracotomi has been performed 1 case. Surgical complication has not been observed. Chest tüp drainage duration was 9 days on an average. In the pathologically examinations, malignant effusion was confirmed in 11 of 22 cases (50%).

Our has demonstreted that Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery-VATS is safe and perfect procedure in diagnosis (91%) and treatment of pleural effusions. VATS need in the pleural effusion but malignancy was observed 50% of the all cases with pleural effusion.

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