title: Video-assisted thoracic surgery: basic technical concepts and intercostal approach strategies.
abstract: Video-assisted thoracic surgery is emerging as a viable approach to a number of intrathoracic disorders. Technical difficulties related to improper instrument selection and suboptimal intercostal operative access can reduce the utility of, and the enthusiasm for, the video-assisted thoracic surgical approach. This report describes the intercostal access strategy and the instrument positioning that we now prescribe for many video-assisted thoracic surgical procedures. These approaches have become refined during the course of our experience with 467 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic operations over the last 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Landreneau
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hazelrigg
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Acuff
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ferson
mesh_terms: D019723:Endoscopes; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000601:surgery; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording