title: Feasibility of 3-dimensional video-assisted thoracic surgery (3D-VATS) for pulmonary resection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two-dimensional video-assisted thoracic surgery (2D-VATS) has gained its position in daily practise. Although very useful, its two-dimensional view has its drawbacks when performing pulmonary resections. We report our first experience with 3-dimensional video-assisted surgery (3D-VATS). Advantages and differences with 2D-VATS and robotic surgery (RS) are discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate feasibility, we scheduled patients for surgery by 3D-VATS who would normally be treated with 2D-VATS. The main difference of the equipment in 3D-VATS compared with former VATS equipment, is the flexible camera-tip (100-degrees) and the necessary 3D-glasses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients were successfully operated for anatomic pulmonary resections. On-the-structure dissection was easily performed and with the flexible camera-tip, a perfect view can be obtained, with clear visualisation of important (hilar) structures. These features highly facilitate the surgeon in tissue preparation and recognition of the dissection planes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our opinion, 3D-VATS is superior to 2D-VATS for performing anatomic pulmonary resection and we expect an improvement in terms of operation time and learning curve. Furthermore, it is a valuable alternative for RS at lower costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dickhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, P.O. Box 90203, 1006 BE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wilson W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Symersky
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, P.O. Box 90203, 1006 BE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Koen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hartemink
keywords: 3-Dimensional; Robot; Technique; VATS