The thoracic surgeon's role in the management of patients with HIV infection and AIDS.

The advent of improved medical therapy with multidrug HIV medicines including protease inhibitors has prolonged life expectation of patients with HIV infection. The risk of perinatal transmission has also decreased with education and antiviral medications. Education of all groups about precautions to decrease HIV transmission appears to have resulted in a decline in the disease incidence; however, this trend has not been mirrored in other countries. All of these factors combine to increase the probability that the surgeon's role to take care of patients with HIV-related illnesses could be significant in the future. The thoracic surgeon may be called upon to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV-infected patients with thoracic complications including pulmonary, cardiac, and esophageal problems. The morbidity and mortality of procedures performed on these patients appear to be no different than patients without HIV. We use very aggressive treatment strategies in patients with AIDS and HIV infections. The use of VATS, especially in the treatment of pneumothoraces and empyemas, should be used and has been shown to be safe and efficacious.