Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

What is VATS?

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Sugery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat illness or injury to the lung and other organs in the chest cavity (thorax). During VATS, a tiny camera with a light source is inserted through a small incision between the ribs. A second small incision is used to insert special instruments between the ribs into the chest cavity. Traditional thoracic surgery involves a large (six-to-ten inch) incision in which the ribs are spread apart for the surgeon to gain access to the organs in the chest cavity. This procedure, known as a thoracotomy is still very safe, but involves a longer recovery than a VATS procedure. VATS patients can typically go home in one to three days (often the following day). Other benefits of VATS include less pain and a quicker return to a normal active lifestyle.

What conditions can be treated using a VATS procedure?

VATS can be used to diagnose and stage lung cancer, remove cancerous and benign tumors, diagnose and treat fluid around the lung or heart, remove portions of a diseased lung and diagnose and treat certain conditions of the esophagus including cancers. New uses for VATS are continually being developed.