What is a thoracoscopy?
Nowadays, the procedure is usually performed as video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT). During the examination, the physician can also perform minimally invasive procedures, such as taking a tissue sample from the pleura or removing a lobe of the lung (in the case of lung cancer). Doctors then speak of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
When is a thoracoscopy performed?
- unclear accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion)
- suspected lung cancer or lung pleura cancer
- diffuse diseases of the lung parenchyma
- unclear inflammatory disease in the thorax
- recurrent accumulation of air in the pleural cavity (pneumothorax)
- cysts on the lung
When should thoracoscopy not be performed?
Some concomitant diseases prohibit the use of thoracoscopy. These include, for example, blood clotting disorders or heart diseases such as a recent heart attack, heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) or cardiac arrhythmias.
What do you do during a thoracoscopy?
Before the examination, the doctor will give you a local anesthetic and a sedative. However, thoracoscopy can also be performed under general anesthesia, so that you do not notice anything about the examination.
At the end of the examination, the doctor inserts a plastic tube through which any air or fluids that have entered the chest are removed. Removing the air allows the lungs to re-expand and resume breathing activity.
What are the risks of thoracoscopy?
Thoracoscopy is a comparatively safe procedure. Relatively often, fever occurs after the examination.Rare risks include:
- Bleeding
- Gas embolism or air accumulation in the tissue (emphysema)
- Respiratory disorders
- Circulatory problems
- allergic reactions to materials or medications used
- infections
