Video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] has recently evolved as an alternative to thoracotomy for several thoracic disorders. Between March 1993 and September 1993, 42 patients underwent VATS at Gil General Hospital. They were diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax in 34[81.0%], mediastinal mass in 5, congenital lobar emphysema in 1, traumatic hemothorax in 1, and sarcoidosis in 1. For pneumothorax, wedge resection of bullae or blebs was done in 18 patients, wedge resection and limited parietal pleulectomy in 13, and only pleulectomy in 2. And excision for mediastinal mass in 5, hematoma evacuation for chronic hemothorax in 1, biopsies of mediastinal lymph node and lung for confirming sarcoidosis in 1, and lobectomy of left upper lobe for congenital lobar emphysema in the child of 12 years. The period of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospitalization averaged 3.8 days [range, 1 to 11 days] and 5.9 days [range, 2 to 18 days]. Three complications occurred in 3 patients with pneumothorax [7.1%, 2 recurrent pneumothorax and 1 postoperative bleeding], and the conversion to open thoracotomy was done in 1 due to massive air leak. The causes of postoperative air leak were speculated and the techniques for saving expensive Endo-GIA staplers are described in this paper. VATS is safe and offers the benefits of reduced postoperative pain and rapid recovery. Our experience indicates a markedly expanded role for VATS in the diagnosis and treatment of various thoracic diseases.