Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Location

Thoracic Surgery 948 48th Street Brooklyn, NY  11219 Map Link Phone: (718) 283-7686 Lung Cancer Treatment Maimonides Cancer Center 6300 Eighth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11220 Map Link

Physicians and Staff

Igor Brichkov, MD Thoracic Surgeon (718) 283-7686

Loren Harris, MD Chief, Thoracic Surgery (718) 283-7686

Jason Shaw, MD Director, Minimally Invasive General Thoracic Surgery (718) 283-7686

What is video-assisted thoracic surgery?

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive approach to treating the lungs. Three small incisions (each about 1-inch) are made and a “port” created, allowing a small videoscope (thoracoscope) to be inserted into the patient’s chest cavity. The videoscope transmits images of the lung onto a computer monitor, thus allowing the surgical team to view the operative area. Other special instruments can then be inserted to perform a lung biopsy and surgically remove sections of the lung (lobectomy), if medically indicated. As a result, lung cancer diagnosis and treatment can occur during the same procedure.

What are the benefits of video-assisted thoracic surgery?

Traditional or “open” chest surgery involves one long (6-to 8-inch) incision, as well as dividing and spreading the sternum and major muscles in the chest wall. In comparison, patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery have only three small one-inch incisions.

Because there is much less trauma during this procedure, patients experience:

• less post-operative pain
• shorter hospital stays
• better healing and quicker recovery
• reduced bleeding and infection risk

Who is a candidate for video-assisted thoracic surgery?

Video-assisted surgery will be the first option considered, but there may be reasons why traditional “open” chest surgery is preferable for a particular patient. This decision will be made after consultation with the thoracic surgeon.

To make an appointment with a thoracic surgeon at Maimonides, please call (718) 283-7686.