Definition: A surgical procedure that uses instruments and a camera to operate inside the chest cavity.
With lung cancer, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) allows surgeons to operate on the lungs through a space between the ribs. 2 to 4 incisions are made, and the tumor is removed with the use of special instruments.
VATS is a relatively new procedure that is done primarily at large academic cancer centers. It is hoped that it may work as well as conventional lung cancer surgery since it is a less invasive surgical procedure. Conventional lung cancer surgery requires surgeons to cut through large muscles and spread the ribs to operate on the lungs.
Also Known As: thorascopic surgery,video-thorascopy,video-assisted thoracic surgery
