Evolution of Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in the Caribbean.

Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) has become the mainstay of thoracic procedures in developed countries. The benefits of VATS over a thoracotomy, and its equivalency in oncologic resections has been clearly established. The introduction of this minimally invasive approach to thoracic surgery to the Caribbean has been a slow progression. The main restrictions to the full implantation of VATS in the resource poor Caribbean setting has been obtaining material resources, developing the necessary human resources, and the small case loads. Each territory has adopted its own innovative approach to getting VATS programmes started. We review the current status of VATS in the English speaking Caribbean.