Thoracoscopic Surgery in Infants and Children

Numerous investigators have shown that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can be safely used for specific conditions of newborns, infants, and children. The technique has been postulated to be associated with a lower morbidity, shorter hospital stay, lower costs, and clinical results similar to those achieved by open surgery. The present article reviews the state of the art of VATS for thoracic conditions in children. Most authors focus on the feasibility of single procedures, and only a small number of reports deals with the feasibility in series with multiple types of procedures and larger numbers of patients. Therefore, systematic research on the advantages and limits of VATS in children remains mandatory.