Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty in the treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3775 @entity1353 @entity4530 @entity26 @entity2415 @entity134
BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty in the treatment of @entity2415 by means of a contact neodymium:yttrium- @entity3775 garnet laser was evaluated by a retrospective analysis of the first consecutive 500 procedures in 443 @entity1 . The indication for thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty was intractable @entity1353 . METHODS: Advanced age (mean age, 67 years), high @entity26 dependency (70%), @entity134 use (46%), and markedly diminished physical capacity (2% bedridden and 27% wheelchair-bound) were noted. Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty was carried out under general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation. Type 3 @entity4530 (381 procedures) were contracted by contact neodymium:yttrium- @entity3775 garnet laser and type 4 @entity4530 (199 procedures) excised. The operative mortality rate was 4.8%. RESULTS: Subjective improvement was reported by 87% of the @entity1 . Follow-up functional evaluation was available in 229 @entity1 , which showed highly significant improvement. A comparison of preoperative and postoperative functional tests between type 3 and 4 @entity4530 @entity1 showed no significant difference, except the latter had higher decrease in airway resistance, residual volume, and total lung capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic laser pneumoplasty is an effective treatment for both type 3 and 4 @entity2415 with an acceptable risk.
