[Is there a place for thoracic surgery in the peripheral hospital?].

Between 1983 and 1990, 52 patients underwent a thoracotomy in our hospital. After having reviewed these cases, and in particular the 42 who presented a primary lung cancer, we were able to compare our results with those already published. This showed that both our mortality and survival rates were similar to those already published. However, our preoperative evaluation of patients ought to be improved.