BMJ  2004;329 (30 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7473.0-b

Video assisted thoracic surgery is useful but underused

Video assisted thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive approach to diagnosing and treating diseases of the lung and pleura. In a systematic review Sedrakyan and colleagues (p 1008) found that such surgery for pneumothorax and minor resections was associated with shorter length of stay in hospital and less pain with no increase in complications when compared with thoracotomy. However, the same authors found that use of this minimally invasive technology in UK specialist units varies widely (p 1011), and this seems to be explained by surgeons' preferences rather than patients' needs.

Related Articles

Variation in use of video assisted thoracic surgery in the United Kingdom

Artyom Sedrakyan, Jan van der Meulen, James Lewsey, and Tom Treasure
BMJ 2004 329: 1011-1012. [Full Text] [PDF]

Video assisted thoracic surgery for treatment of pneumothorax and lung resections: systematic review of randomised clinical trials

Artyom Sedrakyan, Jan van der Meulen, James Lewsey, and Tom Treasure
BMJ 2004 329: 1008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]