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.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a procedure to diagnose and treat certain conditions that affect your chest area. Healthcare providers insert a thin tube with a tiny video camera on the end (a thoracoscope) into a small incision in your chest.

This scope allows your provider to view inside your chest cavity. Your provider inserts surgical instruments into separate small incisions. They use images from the thoracoscope to guide and perform procedures. You may also hear the term video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Benefits of VATS include:

• Less blood loss
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less post operative pain
• Small 2cm scar
• Faster recovery
• Lower risk of infection or complications
• Quick return to daily activities