Video-assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS, is a minimally invasive lung treatment now offered at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Jason Shaw, Director of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery, explains this groundbreaking technique and the benefits to patients undergoing surgery.
With this innovative approach, a small videoscope (thoracoscope) is inserted into the patient's chest cavity via a port created by three small incisions. The videoscope transmits images of the lung onto a computer monitor, allowing the surgical team to view the operative area. It is particularly useful when performing a lobectomy or lung biopsy.