In the last year at Jackson Memorial Hospital, we have incorporated video thoracoscopy into our regimen for treatment of retained hemothroax in patients who have sustained penetrating and/or blunt trauma to the chest. Those patients with chest tubes and occult fevers and/or elevated white cell counts with proven retained hemothorax by CT scan have had the use of early thoracoscopy to evacuate the retained hemothoraces to reduce the morbidity and mortality of open thoracotomy. We now have a series of 15 patients who have undergone this procedure showing a decreased hospital time and decreased morbidity and mortality with the use of this procedure. This videotape reviews the indications and technical aspects Involved in thoracoscopic treatment of retained hemothorax. It also summarizes our current series data at JMH proving the efficacy of this procedure.