Corpo estranho intratorácico tratado por videocirurgia / Thoracic foreign body treated by thoracoscopy

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes our preliminary experience with diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy in the assessment of a case of precordial knife wound due to an attempt of suicide. The patient was stable at admission, with a systolic pressure > 80mmHg and a knife was introduced at the Ziedler's area. The thoracoscopy was performed to remove the knife by direct visualization and documented a lung laceration, a small hemothorax and a pericardial laceration without myocardial injury. The hemothorax was aspired and a chest tube was inserted. The patient was managed successfully without thoracotomy