When it comes to lung cancer surgery, you have options.
Open Surgery: Lung cancer surgery may be performed using open surgery through a long chest incision. Doctors may also need to spread the ribs to access the lung. Open surgery allows doctors to touch and feel organs while operating.
Minimally Invasive Surgery options include:
Thoracoscopy/VATS: Thoracoscopy is also called video-assisted thoracic surgery or VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery). Doctors insert a tiny camera (thorascope) and surgical instruments into the chest through small incisions. The camera takes images inside the patient’s body and sends them to a video monitor in the operating room to guide surgeons as they operate.
Robotically Assisted Surgery: When using robotically assisted surgery, doctors make a few small incisions - similar to thoracoscopy procedures. During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon sits at a console near the patient and controls the instruments, which bend and rotate. The surgeon uses a 3D HD vision system which provides a magnified view inside the patient’s body. The system translates all hand movements into smaller, precise movements of tiny instruments in the patient’s body. Learn about Beebe's Center for Robotic Surgery.
More About Treatment Options
Lung Cancer Screenings and Beebe Oncology Services.
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