Surgical approaches

• Surgical Approaches:

  • Posterior-lateral thoracotomy
  • Mini thoracotomy
  • Anterior
  • Thoracoscopy (biopsy)
  • Video assisted thoracotomy
• Posterior-lateral thoracotomy:

  
• Mini thoracotomy:

  • compared to posterior-lateral thoracotomy:
  • quicker recovery time
  • smaller incision
  • decrease in infection risk
  • less pain

  
• Anterior approach thoracotomy:

  • only used in some circumstances
  • usually used for sternal surgery and/or if there's any cardiac involvement

  
• Thoracoscopy:

  • Scope that goes into thorax
  • Used to assist diagnosis - looks for stuff like tumours, plaque on pleura or anything you cant find the location of when using straight forward imaging
  • Minimal surgical trauma
  • Developing as alternative to open biopsy - as theres a decrease in risk of infection
  • Precursor to Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery procedure (physio assisted thoracoscopy)
• Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)

  • All pulmonary resections can be performed under VATS
  • lobectomy (removal of a lobe) and pneumonectomy (removal of a lung)
  • Lower risk of post operative complications
  • Less trauma
  • Reduced pain
  • Quicker mobilisation
  • Decrease in length of stay in hospital