St. Joseph’s Center for Thoracic and Esophageal Disease is committed to providing the most advanced surgical methods available to our patients. With traditional (open) approaches, surgery is conducted through large open incisions that may extend a patient's hospital stay and increase the chances of surgical complications. Although open procedures are still required for many complex thoracic cases, an increasing number of procedures can now be done via minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery involves the use of several small incisions, 5 to 10 mm in length. These incisions provide access to the body for surgical instruments and a video camera, allowing the entire operation to be viewed on a video monitor in the operating room.Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Surgery
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery
There are many advantages of minimally invasive surgery, including:
- Improved accuracy and visualization
- Decreased post-operative pain
- Reduced post-operative healing time
- Limited scarring
Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery can be used for a variety of conditions, including:
- Lung Tumors (Lung cancer, Nodules)
- Congenital (Pneumothorax, Sequestration, Fistula)
- Acquired (Infection, Empyema)
- Esophageal Tumor (Cancer, Leiomyoma)
- Benign disease
- Achalasia
-
Gastroesophageal reflux
- Giant paraesophageal Hernia
- Zenker's Diverticulum
- Epiphrenic Diverticulum
- Mediastinal Tumors (thymoma, cyst)
-
Hyperhidrosis
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat lung cancer. Read more about VATS.
Contact Us
For questions on our surgical services, please call 1-877-602-4111.
