what is VATS

ktwlpn, LPN · Jun 3, 2004

My home care patient's mother just called to say that he was having a VATS procedure done this afternoon. I do not want to appear stupid,but can somebody please tell me what it is[/quote> Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
Most general thoracic surgical procedures can now be safely performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We routinely (>95%) use VATS to operate on the lung, mediastinum, pleura and esophagus in order to treat diseases such as cancer, pneumothorax, infection, cycts or swallowing disorders
"VATS":
A Major Advance in SurgeryIn 1990, our practice was the first in the world to perform Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS). Since then, we have performed more than 4,000 such procedures--more than any other practice in the country--with great success. Surgeons from across the U.S. and abroad have visited our practice to learn this technique.
VATS offers the effectiveness of traditional chest surgery with dramatically less pain and disability.
Less Pain, Fewer Complications
Because VATS does not require a large incision, our patients have fewer complications and do not suffer from severe chronic chest wall pain, a common problem with open thoracotomy. Most VATS patients do not require intensive care services and are usually able to eat and walk on the day of surgery. We have been able to reduce hospital stays and recovery time by more than 80 percent.
Traditional Chest Surgery VATS Technique
Using open thoracotomy, surgeons make a large incision and spread the ribs apart. VATS surgeons make four incisions, about one inch each, then insert a small videoscope, which projects the internal chest cavity onto a video monitor. This enables the surgeons, using special instruments, to perform a full range of chest surgery procedures.
VATS versus Open Thoracotomy: A Comparison
THORACOTOMY VATS
Size of incision 10-14 inches approx. 1 inch
Average hospital stay 10-12 days Less than 2 days
Return to work/normal routine 6-8 weeks 7-10 days
Major Complications 30 percent less than 5 percent
"I had a friend who had traditional thoracic surgery (thoracotomy) and I saw how long it took her to recover; I did not expect to feel so well, so quickly after surgery."(Lung Cancer patient Eileen Fraser, 58, reporting 10 days after VATS surgery.)
"I was very nervous and wasn't going to have this surgery at all, but the Doctor kept reassuring me that it was nothing compared to my previous traditional surgery. The VATS surgery was over in an hour, and I went home the next day!"(Lung Cancer patient Shirley Karp, 67, suffered pain for 20 years from previous lung
surgery, the pain from the VATS surgery was gone within one week.)
---->Who knows what she is actually having done-VATS appears to be a surgical method-maybe the patient's mother does not even understand what is actually happening....----------------------------------------------------------------------------

mscsrjhm · Jun 3, 2004

I had a pleuridesis in '91. 9 inch incision, chronic pain. Wish my body had waited to start falling apart-VATs wasn't being utilized at my hospital at that time. (But, I can tell you what the barometric pressure is at any given time).

Mschrisco

lpn3324 · Jun 3, 2004

My home care patient's mother just called to say that he was having a VATS procedure done this afternoon. I do not want to appear stupid,but can somebody please tell me what it is[/quote> Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
Most general thoracic surgical procedures can now be safely performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We routinely (>95%) use VATS to operate on the lung, mediastinum, pleura and esophagus in order to treat diseases such as cancer, pneumothorax, infection, cycts or swallowing disorders
"VATS":
A Major Advance in SurgeryIn 1990, our practice was the first in the world to perform Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS). Since then, we have performed more than 4,000 such procedures--more than any other practice in the country--with great success. Surgeons from across the U.S. and abroad have visited our practice to learn this technique.
VATS offers the effectiveness of traditional chest surgery with dramatically less pain and disability.
Less Pain, Fewer Complications
Because VATS does not require a large incision, our patients have fewer complications and do not suffer from severe chronic chest wall pain, a common problem with open thoracotomy. Most VATS patients do not require intensive care services and are usually able to eat and walk on the day of surgery. We have been able to reduce hospital stays and recovery time by more than 80 percent.
Traditional Chest Surgery VATS Technique
Using open thoracotomy, surgeons make a large incision and spread the ribs apart. VATS surgeons make four incisions, about one inch each, then insert a small videoscope, which projects the internal chest cavity onto a video monitor. This enables the surgeons, using special instruments, to perform a full range of chest surgery procedures.
VATS versus Open Thoracotomy: A Comparison
THORACOTOMY VATS
Size of incision 10-14 inches approx. 1 inch
Average hospital stay 10-12 days Less than 2 days
Return to work/normal routine 6-8 weeks 7-10 days
Major Complications 30 percent less than 5 percent
"I had a friend who had traditional thoracic surgery (thoracotomy) and I saw how long it took her to recover; I did not expect to feel so well, so quickly after surgery."(Lung Cancer patient Eileen Fraser, 58, reporting 10 days after VATS surgery.)
"I was very nervous and wasn't going to have this surgery at all, but the Doctor kept reassuring me that it was nothing compared to my previous traditional surgery. The VATS surgery was over in an hour, and I went home the next day!"(Lung Cancer patient Shirley Karp, 67, suffered pain for 20 years from previous lung
surgery, the pain from the VATS surgery was gone within one week.)
---->Who knows what she is actually having done-VATS appears to be a surgical method-maybe the patient's mother does not even understand what is actually happening....----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you sooo much. He had an URI last week,which Zith did not phase,he was admitted Monday and when they did a CAT scan they found an abscess in his right lung. Now I don't feel as stupid,thanx again :imbar

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

Never, ever feel stupid for not knowing something you've never been taught!

You showed good intellectual resources by finding out the info. (here's a laugh, I originally spelled "good," "goo....." What would you have thought of my stupididity level?? LOL)

Hope the diagnosis is manageable and that health and comfort come soon.

Best,

Chris

ktwlpn, LPN · Jun 3, 2004

Never, ever feel stupid for not knowing something you've never been taught!
You showed good intellectual resources by finding out the info. (here's a laugh, I originally spelled "good," "goo....." What would you have thought of my stupididity level?? LOL)
Hope the diagnosis is manageable and that health and comfort come soon.
Best,
Chris

Her query shows her great initiative.The members of this board have been a great source of info for me over the years and google is where it's at,baby!....We can learn something new everyday if we want to.....Or we can just put one foot in front of the other day after day.....and not give a hoot....I don't like that approach-it does not work for me....

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

thanks ktwlpn. I learned a lot from your response