Thoracic surgery is involved in the management of surgical disorders of thoracic organs (heart, lungs, oesophagus, thoracic wall).
V.A.T.S. (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery) is a relatively new method which evolved next to laparoscopic surgery. It involves diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for the management of thoracic disorders. It is essential for patients to receive general anaesthesia and to be selectively intubated.
The procedures are performed via small incisions, 4 – 8mm in diameter, with the use of a specialised camera which enables 20x magnification for more accurate tissue identification.
Diagnostic V.A.T.S. applies to thoracic biopsies.
As a treatment, V.A.T.S. applies to a large number of thoracic disorders, apart from the ones requiring conventional surgery in case of lung malignancies.
The advantages of this method include small incisions, reduced pain, a reduced hospital stay (24 – 48 hours) and maximum surgical precision due to the technology used.