ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical value of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for treatment of pulmonary diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October, 2009 to December, 2013, 105 patients with pulmonary diseases were scheduled for single-pore VATS for pulmonary lobectomy (19 patients), wedge resection of the lung (34 patients), and bullae resection and pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax or pulmonary bleb (52 patients).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 105 patients, 101 patients underwent single-port VATS; the procedure was converted to open thoracotomy in 1 patient and to conventional three-port VATS in 2 patients. The operative time was 50.6∓36.8 min (20-200 min) with intraoperative blood loss of 70∓56.9 ml (10-300 ml), thoracic drainage time of 4.2∓3.2 days (2-14 days), and postoperative hospital stay of 5.4∓3.8 days (3-16 days). Postoperative complications of the procedures included prolonged air leakage (6 cases) and atelectasis (2 cases). All the other patients recovered smoothly without serious complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Single-port VATS is a safe and efficient procedure that allows rapid postoperative recovery and is a method of choice for selected patients with pulmonary diseases.</p>