Thoracoscopy for the acutely injured patient.

Advances in video-surgery digital technology, new instruments, and advanced surgical techniques have increased the importance of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the diagnosis and treatment of the acutely injured patient. Currently, VATS offers a new approach in the diagnosis and treatment of many thoracic conditions previously treated only by standard thoracotomy. Available data suggest that when caring for trauma patients, results of VATS are comparable with open surgery. Furthermore, the recovery process clearly is expedited with this minimally invasive modality. It has been our experience during the last decade that VATS is a safe, reliable, and effective alternative to conventional open thoracic surgery.