Video-assited thoracoscopic surgery: a new approach, less invasive

Abstract

The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has spread in recent years, in an unthinkable way, developing and perfecting an arsenal of instruments that are used for all types of endoscopic interventions, allowing the performance of interventions in the thoracic cavity, this research focuses on determining the efficacy and safety of intrapleural carbon dioxide insufflation in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery applied to thoracic, pleuropulmonary and mediastinal pathologies, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients. The study is prospective, longitudinal and descriptive, with a sample of 200 patients, period January 2014 - June 2017, main outcomes: surgical time, postoperative drainage, hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, complications. The results obtained were: Female gender 51%, Average age 52, VATS 74.5%, Thoracotomy 25.5%, surgical time 120min, Transoperative bleeding 113ml, Hospital stay 3d, Mechanical ventilation 59.10%, Postoperative complications atelectasis 36, 9%, pneumonia 18.1%, emphysema 7.4%. According to the results obtained, it is concluded that the VATS approach is a fast, safe, minimally invasive and highly effective technique in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pleuropulmonary or mediastinal pathologies.