Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
VATS is a minimally invasive technique for the diagnosis and treatment of lung and pleural disease. Thoracotomy is replaced by up to three small incisions from 0.5 to 2.0 cm long and well lit video images are displayed on large screens, allowing the surgeon, assistants, and students a view.
Advantages:
-Small incisions
-Less pain
-Less time of hospitalization
-Less morbidity and mortality
Preparation:
Lung isolation
Lateral decubitus position
Uniport or two ports or three ports
VATS, what’s can be done:
Thoracic cage: -Congenital chest wall deformities (NUSS procedure)
-Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Diaphragm plication ( Eventration, paralysis, Hernia, Laceration)
Pleural lesions: -Diagnostic thoracoscopy
-Empyema
-Hemothorax
-Chylothorax
-Malignant Pleural Effusion
-Pleural tumors
Parenchymal diseases:-Recurrent spontaneous Pneumothorax
-Interstitial Lung Diseases
- Pulmonary nodules
-Hydatic cyst of lung
-Localized bronchiectasis
-lung cancer (early stages)
-Mediastianal lesions:-Thymectomy
-Mediastinal Lymph Nodes Dissection or Sampling
-Posterior mediastina masses
-pericardial window
-Thoracic Sympathectomy
-Esophageal surgery