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VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery)
VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) is a minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedure performed through small keyhole incisions in the chest — enabling lung resection, pleural surgery, mediastinal surgery, and thoracic biopsies with significantly less pain, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery than open thoracotomy.
Overview
Key Benefits
Discover the advantages of choosing our vats (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) services.
Equivalent oncological outcomes to open thoracotomy with dramatically less pain and faster recovery
Shorter hospital stay of 3 to 5 days compared to 5 to 10 days for equivalent open surgery
Significantly less post-operative pain allowing earlier mobilisation and physiotherapy
Faster return to full normal activities — typically 2 to 4 weeks compared to 6 to 8 weeks
Better preservation of pulmonary function compared to open thoracotomy with rib spreading
Clinical Features
The technology, techniques and clinical approach behind our vats (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery).
Double-lumen tube provides complete lung isolation for safe intrathoracic working space
Complete thoracic cavity inspection before resection confirms disease extent and excludes surprises
Individual vessel ligation or stapling provides secure haemostasis at every hilar structure
Endoscopic stapler division ensures airtight parenchymal closure reducing air leak risk
Specimen retrieval bag prevents tumour cell seeding or contamination during extraction
Preparation Instructions
After VATS, manage the chest drain carefully as instructed by the nursing team — never clamp or disconnect it without specific instruction. Begin the prescribed respiratory physiotherapy exercises from day one — deep breathing, coughing, and early ambulation are the most important factors in preventing post-operative pulmonary complications. Attend all post-operative outpatient appointments and CT surveillance scans as scheduled based on the surgical histological findings. Contact your thoracic surgical team immediately for sudden worsening breathlessness, increasing chest drain output, subcutaneous emphysema, or fever.
The Procedure
Step-by-step guide to what you can expect during your vats (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) procedure.
Multi-Disciplinary Thoracic Planning
Your thoracic surgeon, pulmonologist, and anaesthesiologist review all preoperative investigations including CT, PET-CT, pulmonary function tests, and cardiopulmonary exercise test results to confirm you are fit for single-lung ventilation and the planned VATS resection.
General Anaesthesia and Double-Lumen Tube
General anaesthesia is administered with a double-lumen endotracheal tube allowing one lung to be deflated during surgery while the other continues to ventilate. The deflated lung falls away from the chest wall creating the working space for the VATS instruments.
Port Placement and Thoracoscopic Inspection
Two to four small chest wall incisions allow the thoracoscope and instruments to be introduced. The entire thoracic cavity is systematically inspected before any resection begins — confirming the extent of disease and excluding unexpected pathology.
Hilar Dissection and Vascular Control
The pulmonary vessels and bronchus of the target lobe or segment are meticulously dissected and individually ligated or stapled. Precise hilar dissection with complete vascular control is the critical step determining the safety of the resection.
Parenchymal Stapling and Specimen Removal
The lung parenchyma is divided using endoscopic staplers — creating a secure, airtight closure of the lung cut surface. The resected specimen is placed in a retrieval bag and extracted through a slightly enlarged port incision without contaminating the chest cavity.
Drain Placement and Lung Re-Expansion
One or two chest drains are placed under direct vision and the lung is re-expanded under bronchoscopic confirmation. The port sites are closed and drain output and swing are confirmed before transfer to the thoracic surgery ward.
What to Expect
VATS is performed under general anaesthesia with single-lung ventilation and takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Two to four small chest wall incisions allow introduction of the camera and instruments, and the planned thoracic operation is performed under magnified video guidance. A chest drain is placed at the end of the procedure and removed when lung re-expansion and drainage criteria are met — typically 2 to 4 days. Most patients are discharged within 3 to 5 days and return to full normal activities within 2 to 4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about vats (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery).
Related Services
Explore other services in our Pulmonology department.
Dilatation Tracheal
Flexible Bronchoscopy
EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound)
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