What is Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)?
Thoracic surgery treats non-cardiac conditions present in the chest. The abnormalities could be in the lungs, esophagus, ribs, etc. Conventionally, thoracic surgery treatment was done through open chest surgery. A single incision of 20-25 cm on the side of the chest would allow the surgeon to access various organs and operate. It increases the time of recovery and can cause complications, including the loss of shoulder function. To overcome this limitation with open chest surgery, a minimally invasive procedure called video-assisted thoracic surgery is employed to treat lung cancer, thymus gland tumors, & various conditions
| Procedure Name | Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Minimally Invasive Surgery |
| Type of Anesthesia | General Anesthesia |
| Procedure Duration | 2-3 hours |
| Recovery Duration | 1-2 weeks |
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS): Pre-Op & Post-Op Care
Preparation
Before the VATS procedure, you are advised to get a CT scan and a chest MRI scan. The patient will be asked to stop using certain medications that might affect the procedure.
During VATS
Once in the procedure room, you will be administered general anesthesia to reduce the likelihood of causing pain during the procedure. To begin with the procedure, a few small incisions are made on the chest wall; a thoracoscope, a thin tube associated with a video, is placed through one of the incisions to view the inner side of the chest wall, followed by the surgical tools being inserted through the other incisions to remove the tumors in the lungs with high precision as the video images produced to guide the surgeons during the surgery.
Recovery from VATS Surgery
The recovery period may vary from person to person & many other factors; however, the ideal healing time is 2 weeks & might go longer in some individuals. However, if you notice symptoms like a high fever, excruciating pain, & difficulty in breathing, you can get in touch with your doctor.
Post-Op Care
Following the instructions, such as taking the prescribed medications, doing certain breathing exercises, avoiding activities that strain the body, and making necessary dietary changes as per the doctor’s suggestions, along with follow-ups for monitoring the status, are a few post-op care steps one must follow.
Benefits of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) at Yashoda Hospitals
- Minimally invasive technique,
- Less Likelihood of complications & infections
- Minimal pain & cosmetic scars.
- Quick recovery.
- Minimal period of hospital stay.
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