Video-assisted thoracic surgery and pneumothorax

• Published in: Journal of thoracic disease 2015-02, Vol.7 (Suppl 1), p.S56-S61
• Main Authors: Paliouras, Dimitrios, Barbetakis, Nikolaos, Lazaridis, George, Baka, Sofia, Mpoukovinas, Ioannis, Karavasilis, Vasilis, Kioumis, Ioannis, Pitsiou, Georgia, Papaiwannou, Antonis, Karavergou, Anastasia, Lampaki, Sofia, Katsikogiannis, Nikolaos, Mpakas, Andreas, Tsakiridis, Kosmas, Korantzis, Ipokratis, Fassiadis, Nikolaos, Zarogoulidis, Konstantinos, Zarogoulidis, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Review
• ISSN: 2072-1439; 2077-6624
• DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.01.35

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a type of thoracic surgery performed using a small video camera that is introduced into the patient's chest via a scope. It is considered a minimally invasive technique where the surgeon is able to view the instruments that are being used along with the anatomy on which the surgeon is operating. The camera and instruments are inserted through separate holes in the chest wall also known as "ports", depending on the patient and problem there are surgeries with one port "uniport", two or three ports. These small ports have the advantage that fewer infections are observed. This allows for a faster recovery. Traditionally, thoracic surgery performed for diagnosis or treatment of chest conditions has required access to the chest through thoracotomy or sternotomy incisions. Vats minimally invasive technique has replaced in many cases thoracotomy or sternotomy. In our current review we will present this technique in detail.