In the field of thoracic surgery, Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive procedure which helps in faster recovery of the patient along with lesser pain and risks. It is this innovative procedure that has helped a 54 year old retired school teacher from Trichy to lead a normal life after being diagnosed with an advanced stage lung infection at Rela Hospital in Chennai.
Mr. Rajendran who hail from Trichy came to Rela Hospital with a persistent cough, chest pain and also loss of body weight. The initial tests had suggested that it was just a simple respiratory tract infection; however, later scans revealed that there was a shadow in the left lobe of his lungs. The fluid retention in the lungs had also caused pleural effusion.
Mr. Rajendran who was diagnosed with an early stage lung cancer was supposed to undergo conventional surgery that would have required a bigger incision to remove the infected lobe of his lungs. However, Dr. Srinath Vijayasekharan and Dr.Senthil Kumar, senior cardiothoracic surgeons at Rela Hospital, decided to perform a VATS lobectomy in his case.
“We could remove the infected lobe of his lungs with lesser damage to the surrounding tissues using VATS. VATS is an innovative procedure where the surgeon accesses the affected area with the help of a thoracoscope which allows him to have a magnified view of the site of infection,” says Dr. Srinath.
“It is indeed a relief for the patients who are not fit for conventional surgeries,” adds his colleague Dr. Senthil Kumar.
With the help of three small incisions, the surgeons accessed his chest cavity and removed the infected lobe of the lungs with the help of a thoracoscope and other surgical instruments. What was surprising was that not a single rib was fractured during the procedure. The surgery which took close to 3 hours was over, as they removed the lobe of his lungs with lesser pain and blood loss. Within hours he was off the ventilator and started walking the same day. He was discharged within 72 hours of the surgery.
• Lesser incisions
• No cutting of muscles or spreading of ribs
• Faster recovery process
• Lesser pain and blood loss
• Low risk of infections or other complications
• Shorter hospital stay and quick return to normal life
