Endoscopic Surgery
Endoscopic intervention on the chest is called “Thoracoscopy”. Thoracoscopy is usually performed by recording the procedure on a video monitor. This is called “Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)”.
Video Assisted Toracoscopic Surgery (VATS)
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is the monitoring of chest interior by using a video camera and the reflection thereof on a screen under general anesthesia. After monitoring of the rib cage, almost all surgeries including biopsy and surgical resection can be performed with the aid of various surgical devices through holes (called ports) on the chest.
Patients have far less pains following VATS when compared with Standard Thoracotomy (Open Surgery),
- Duration of hospitalization shortens,
- Patient can return to working life sooner and ,
- Daily activities are performed more easily.
In addition, since surgical incision is smaller, cases of incision-related bleeding are less, and this closed method is more tolerable by elderly patients with restricted respiration. However, patients fit for thoracoscopy should be selected as this procedure cannot be conducted on every patient and lesions in every size. You are recommended to follow your doctor’s advice.
Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy
This method which is another application site of thoracoscopic intervention can be used in cases of excessive sweating in hands and armpits. Endoscopic technique is a much safer method compared to open surgical sympathectomy. Intervention is performed under anesthesia through a small incision in the armpit. Sympathetic nerve is monitored by introduction of a camera into the chest cavity. Sympathetic nerve is clipped, cut or burned with cautery from the level causing sweating, thus it is disconnected from sweat glands.
