title: Video-assisted thoracic surgery and pneumothorax.
abstract: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a type of thoracic surgery performed using a small video camera that is introduced into the patient's chest via a scope. It is considered a minimally invasive technique where the surgeon is able to view the instruments that are being used along with the anatomy on which the surgeon is operating. The camera and instruments are inserted through separate holes in the chest wall also known as "ports", depending on the patient and problem there are surgeries with one port "uniport", two or three ports. These small ports have the advantage that fewer infections are observed. This allows for a faster recovery. Traditionally, thoracic surgery performed for diagnosis or treatment of chest conditions has required access to the chest through thoracotomy or sternotomy incisions. Vats minimally invasive technique has replaced in many cases thoracotomy or sternotomy. In our current review we will present this technique in detail.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paliouras
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbetakis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lazaridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mpoukovinas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karavasilis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kioumis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitsiou
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papaiwannou
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karavergou
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lampaki
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikogiannis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mpakas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Ipokratis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korantzis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fassiadis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 3 Department of Oncology, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Oncology Department, "BioMedicine" Private Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 7 Thoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Oncology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 9 Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, St. George's, King's College, Guy's and St Thoma' Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
keywords: Pneumothorax; surgery; thoracoscopy