title: [Minimally invasive thoracic surgery versus standard surgery].
abstract: Advances in technology, with the availability of optics and minitelevision cameras and improved endoscopic instrumentation (especially endo-stapler devices), have allowed the surgeon to obtain a superior panoramic view of the thoracic cavity and an optimal surgical manuvrability. This has determined the development, besides the traditional thoracotomic approach, of minimally invasive techniques of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). An auxiliary mini-thoracotomic approach and the magnification of the operating theatre, which allows the surgeon to accomplish difficult manoeuvres under diret view, have progressively extended the indications of this procedure: at first used for the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural effusions, it is now employed in biopsy or atypical resection of pulmonary nodules, lung cancer staging and diagnostic-therapeutical procedures of mediastinal diseases, major pulmonary resections (lobectomy and pneumonectomy) and lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema (LVRS). The Authors review minimally invasive techniques of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), compared to the traditional surgical ones, for the treatment of various thoracic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Chirurgia Toracica Università degli Studie di Bari.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sollitto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loizzi
mesh_terms: D006491:Hemothorax / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data