Everything You Need to Know About Video-Assisted Thorascopic (VATS) Surgery

How many people dread the idea of going to an operating theatre for a surgical procedure? Well, the number is countless. Traditional surgical procedures involve deep cuts and incisions into the skin. They are painful and demanding on your body during the recovery period. The chest area in particular can cause quite a scare because it hosts delicate and vital organs such as the lungs and heart. Surgical procedures in this region require a less invasive procedure that will not disrupt your vital organs. If you are in need of one, look no further than video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The following discussion covers everything that amateurs need to know regarding VATS. 

Need for VATS

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery comes in handy when doctors need to examine and treat certain conditions in the chest area. Examples of incidences that may necessitate VATS include the following: 

  1. Biopsy: Biopsy refers to a medical procedure in which practitioners extract a small part of an organ for further examination. It is useful for diagnosing cancerous cells to determine their severity. 
  2. Lung surgery: Lungs are delicate organs. Doctors must handle them carefully when carrying out surgical procedures. Lung cancer and lung volume disorders are some of the conditions that require the use of VATS. 
  3. Oesophagus surgery: Surgical treatment for disorders affecting the oesophagus also require VATS instead of making deep cuts into the abdominal organs. 

VATS Procedure

Just as the name suggests, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery employs cameras and minimally invasive instruments to perform surgical procedures in the chest area. The surgeon inserts a small camera in the affected areas to capture images and transmit them to a screen where he or she can examine your body. At the same time, the doctor also inserts appropriate surgical instruments to cut, extract or repair the specific tissues they deem affected. 

VATS Preparation

Preparation for VATS must be thorough and comprehensive. Considering the sensitive nature of the chest area, a surgeon must subject you to extensive examination before they can put you through a VATS procedure. They will look at the pulmonary functioning of the blood vessels close to your heart to help them anticipate any bleeding complications that may crop up in the course of the operation. Additionally, the surgeon may carry out imaging tests to examine the structure of the organs in the chest. It will help them determine if you are fit for VATS. Moreover, the surgeon will also decide what kind of anaesthetic to use during the surgery based on the condition of your thoracic area. Too much anaesthetic can damage the thoracic nerves. 

For more information about other kinds of robotic surgery, contact a professional surgeon with relevant experience.


Share