Thoracoscopic surgery

The thoracoscopic technique has even greater advantages compared to laparoscopy , since it allows you to avoid blood loss and injury to the intercostal nerves, significantly reduce the severity of postoperative pain, and, in some cases, completely avoid it. The use of ultra-thin instruments of 3 and 5 mm and the finest flexible optics can significantly reduce the patient’s stay in the clinic (up to 2-4 days, compared with 10-12 days after “open” operations), achieve a good cosmetic effect (3 incisions of 5 mm each) and one 4 cm, to remove the tumor or part of the lung) and provide early medical and social rehabilitation.

In the Department of Surgery Clinic + 31 perform thoracoscopic operations for the following reasons:

• Focal lung lesions, pleura
• Mediastinal Tumors
• Peripheral lung cancer
• Metastatic lung lesion (single metastases)
• Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax
• Thymus disease

Benefits of Thoracoscopic Access

• Minimum invasiveness: during the operation, retractors that traumatize the intercostal nerves are not used, tools with a diameter of 3, 5 and 12 mm are used. A maximum incision of up to 4 cm is performed at the end of the operation to remove a tumor, cyst, or part of the lung. To visualize the surgical field, special thoracoscopes with a flexible end are used, which allows not changing the position of the camera during the operation. Changes in the operating field occur by controlling the camera using special buttons. Soft and anatomical (corresponding to the shape of the intercostal space) trocars are used.
• Minimum invasiveness: during thoracoscopic surgery, there is no intersection of a large array of muscles of the lateral surface of the chest, which ensures high quality of life and the absence of deformation of sutured soft tissues. Port installation locations are sutured with self-absorbable threads.
• Minimal bleeding: accurate allocation of all anatomical structures, the use of modern stapling staplers and hemostasis systems can significantly reduce intraoperative blood loss to 50-100ml.
• Cosmetic effect: the field of operation remains thin scars, which become almost invisible within 6-8 months. The largest 4cm incision is located in women under the mammary gland.
• Short rehabilitation and recovery in the postoperative period compared with abdominal surgery.

In Clinic + 31, the majority of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on the lungs and organs of the mediastinum are performed by thoracoscopic access (in the absence of contraindications). Used equipment from leading manufacturers. Clinic specialists underwent training and internship in thoracoscopic surgery in leading clinics in France and Belgium. The leading specialist in this field is Pavel Kononets (candidate of medical sciences, oncologist surgeon, thoracic surgeon).