Video Assisted Thoracic Surgeries (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat thoracic (chest) diseases or conditions. It involves the use of a specialized video camera and various surgical instruments to perform procedures through small incisions in the chest wall, eliminating the need for large traditional incisions.
During a VATS procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the chest wall, usually between 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters in size. A thoracoscope (a flexible tube with a camera and light source) is inserted through one of these incisions, providing a magnified view of the thoracic cavity on a video monitor. Additional incisions are made to insert surgical instruments, which are manipulated by the surgeon to perform the necessary surgical procedures.
VATS can be used for a variety of thoracic surgeries, including lung biopsies, lung wedge resections, lobectomies, pneumonectomies, and decortications. It is often preferred over traditional open surgeries as it offers numerous advantages such as reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and improved cosmetic outcome due to smaller scars.
Video Assisted Thoracic Surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, and the surgeon continuously monitors the video feed to guide the surgical instruments accurately. While VATS has revolutionized thoracic surgery, it may not be suitable for all patients or specific conditions, and thus proper evaluation and consultation with a thoracic surgeon are necessary to determine the best approach for each individual case.
