Cost-containing strategies in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. An Asian perspective.
BACKGROUND
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is now an established approach in the management of many thoracic conditions. However, the high cost of this new technology has deterred many Asian hospitals from widely applying this technique.


METHODS
This article describes our strategies to reduce cost in our practice of VATS over the last few years.


RESULTS
VATS involves (1) careful patient selection, (2) use of conventional thoracic instruments as much as possible, (3) modification of conventional instruments, (4) limited use of expensive consumables, and (5) development and application of endoscopic suturing technique.


CONCLUSIONS
VATS is still in evolution. Cost containment, while desirable in the West, is a high priority in Asia if this new surgical approach is to be applicable even in developing countries. More research is greatly needed in this area.
Yim
A P
AP
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D014741:Video Recording