Thoracoscopic surgical procedure refers to a minimally invasive surgical technique performed in the chest cavity using a thoracoscope. A thoracoscope is a specialized instrument that enables visualization of the internal structures of the chest through small incisions or ports. This type of surgery is also known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).
During a thoracoscopic surgical procedure, a surgeon makes several small incisions in the chest wall. The thoracoscope, equipped with a light source and a camera, is then inserted through one of these incisions, allowing the surgeon to visualize the surgical site in real-time on a monitor. Additional small instruments are inserted through the other incisions to conduct the surgical procedure.
The use of a thoracoscope offers several advantages over traditional open chest surgery. It allows for greater precision, decreased postoperative pain, reduced blood loss, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays. Additionally, scars from the small incisions are much smaller and less noticeable compared to the larger incisions required in open surgery.
Thoracoscopic surgical procedures are versatile and can be performed to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions affecting the lungs, pleura (lining of the chest), mediastinum, and other thoracic structures. These procedures include lung biopsies, removal of tumors or cysts from the lungs, treatment of collapsed lungs, repair of diaphragmatic hernias, and resection of lung lobes (lobectomy) or entire lungs (pneumonectomy).
Overall, thoracoscopic surgical procedures have revolutionized thoracic surgery, providing patients with safe and effective alternatives to traditional open surgery, resulting in improved outcomes and enhanced patient satisfaction.
