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Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in the chest.

During a VATS procedure, a tiny camera and surgical tools are inserted into the chest through one or more small cuts in the chest wall. The camera, called a thoracoscope, sends images of the inside of the chest to a video monitor. These images guide the surgeon during the procedure.

Surgeons use the VATS technique for a variety of procedures, such as:

Possible complications of VATS include:

VATS can be an option when open surgery is not the best choice due to health concerns. But VATS may not be good for people who have had chest surgery before. Talk with your health care provider about these and other risks of VATS.

You may need to have tests to find out if VATS is a good option for you. These tests may include imaging tests, blood tests, lung function tests and a heart evaluation.

If you’re scheduled for surgery, your health care provider will give you specific instructions to help you prepare.

Usually, VATS is done with general anesthesia. That means you’re in a sleep-like state during surgery. A breathing tube is placed down your throat into your windpipe to provide oxygen to your lungs.

Your surgeon then makes small cuts in your chest and inserts specially designed surgical tools through these cuts to do the procedure.

VATS typically takes 2 to 3 hours. You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. But the times can vary, depending on the procedure you have and your situation.

In a traditional open surgery, called a thoracotomy, a surgeon cuts open the chest between the ribs. Compared with open surgery, VATS usually results in less pain, fewer complications and shortened recovery time.

If the purpose of VATS is to take a sample of tissue for a biopsy, you may need additional surgery, depending on the results of the biopsy.

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