VATS is a way to do surgery inside the chest. With open surgery, the doctor makes one large cut in your chest. But with VATS, the doctor makes several small cuts. VATS also differs from open surgery because the doctor does not have to cut through the ribs or breastbone (sternum). The doctor can use VATS to find and treat many problems in the chest.
To start, the doctor will make several small cuts between your ribs. These cuts are called incisions. The doctor will put a thin, lighted tube with a camera on it into your chest. This tube is called a thoracoscope, or scope. It lets the doctor see inside your chest. Then the doctor will use tiny surgical tools to do the surgery. The doctor will close the incisions with stitches or staples.
How long you stay in the hospital and how long your recovery takes will depend on why you are having the surgery.
The scars from the incisions will fade with time. The area around the incisions may ache or feel numb in the weeks after surgery.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a surgery that may be done to remove lung cancer.
VATS is a less invasive procedure than a regular open chest surgery (thoracotomy), where the chest is cut open and the ribs are spread apart to allow access to the lungs. VATS uses several small cuts (incisions) so a tiny camera and special tools can be inserted into the chest and lung to remove cancer.
VATS also allows for a faster recovery than open chest surgery. And there are fewer problems during and after surgery.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
VATS is a way to do surgery inside the chest. With open surgery, the doctor makes one large cut in your child's chest. But with VATS, the doctor makes several small cuts. VATS also differs from open surgery because the doctor doesn't have to cut through the ribs or breastbone (sternum). The doctor may use VATS to find and treat problems with the lungs, heart, or spine. Or the doctor may use it to operate on other organs in your child's chest.
To start, the doctor will make several small cuts between your child's ribs. These cuts are called incisions. The doctor will put a thin, lighted tube with a camera on it into the chest. This tube is called a thoracoscope, or scope. It lets the doctor see inside your child's chest. Then the doctor will use tiny surgical tools to do the surgery. The doctor will close the incisions with stitches or staples.
How long your child stays in the hospital and how long it takes him or her to recover will depend on why your child is having the surgery.
The scars from the incisions will fade with time. The area around the cuts may ache or feel numb in the weeks after surgery.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
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Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a way to do surgery inside the chest using several small cuts (incisions) instead of one larger incision (open surgery). VATS also is different from open surgery because it does not require the doctor to cut through the ribs or breastbone (sternum). The doctor may have used VATS to find and treat problems with the lungs, heart, or spine. Or VATS may have been done to operate on other organs in your chest.
Your chest may be sore where the doctor made the incisions and put in the surgical tools. This usually gets better after 2 to 3 weeks.
You will have stitches or staples in the incisions. Your doctor will take these out 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery.
The amount of time you will need to recover depends on the surgery you had. But you probably will need to take it easy at home for at least 1 to 2 weeks.
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