Thoracic surgery has evolved over the last two decades and, following the trend in most surgical specialties, minimally invasive procedures are being performed at an increasing rate. In practice, surgeries that used to be performed through large incisions are now effectively performed through small holes in the lateral chest wall. Today, most thoracic surgeries can be performed thoracoscopically, whereas initially only minor surgeries were performed thoracoscopically, such as lung or pleural biopsies, pneumothorax treatment and metastasectomies. With the accumulation of experience and available technological means, major surgical procedures can now be performed thoracoscopically.  The most representative major surgeries that are now routinely performed thoracoscopically are lobectomies for the treatment of early stages of lung cancer, as well as thymectomies both for the excision of thymomas and for the treatment of myasthenia gravis

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Procedures

By performing these operations without large painful incisions but through small holes in the lateral chest wall, the benefits for the patient in the postoperative period are multiple. For most surgical procedures, blood transfusions are not required, and immediately after the surgery, the patient goes to the common hospital ward and there is no need to stay in the intensive care unit, as is the case with the corresponding open thoracic surgeries.

Reduced Pain and Faster Recovery

The absence of large incisions and significant trauma has two immediate advantages. Firstly immediately after surgery the patient is in significantly less pain and therefore the breathing function is significantly improved, more efficient precisely because the patient is in less pain. In addition, the patient is able to move more quickly. Practically, on the afternoon of surgery the patient can get out of bed and walk. As thoracic surgeries are mostly heavy operations, when they are performed thoracoscopically, overall postoperative complications are significantly reduced. For example, the possibility of infections and problems from the respiratory or cardiovascular system are significantly reduced. Finally, the duration of hospitalization is also reduced: two to three days for medium-severity surgeries and an average of four days for major surgeries. Overall, the postoperative recovery after these thoracoscopic procedures is easier for the patient, the return to daily routines smoother and the return to work faster.

Effectiveness of Thoracoscopic Operations

In addition to the significant benefits for the patient mentioned above, the value of a surgical procedure is clearly determined by its effectiveness. Too many studies over the past 20 years have repeatedly shown that thoracoscopic procedures are just as effective as the corresponding open traditional chest procedures, whether they they are of moderate severity such as lung and pleural biopsies or major thoracic surgeries such as lobectomies and thymectomies. This is also shown by the fact that in large thoracic surgery centers in Europe and America, most operations are now performed with minimally invasive techniques, while international guidelines recommend that as many thoracic surgeries as are technically feasible, be performed in a minimally invasive manner.

Conclusion

Overall, postoperative recovery after thoracoscopic procedures is easier for the patient, return to daily routines smoother, and return to work faster. Thoracoscopic procedures offer significant advantages and are the standard choice for the treatment of many pulmonary and thoracic diseases.