Thoracoscopic tracheal resection and reconstruction: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as a “tool” toward minimally invasive surgery

Technological innovations in endoscopic cameras and surgical instruments such as stapling devices have enabled thoracic surgeons to perform major lung resections by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) safely. VATS may potentially provide several advantages over open thoracotomy such as reduced postoperative pain, lower morbidity, better preservation of pulmonary function and shorter hospital stay. Today, more than two decades after its introduction, VATS has been widely accepted as a minimally invasive approach to perform lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer (1). In addition, VATS has been more widely employed by some experienced surgeons as a feasible approach to perform extended lung resections such as lobectomy following induction therapy for locally advanced lung cancer and sleeve lobectomy with broncho-plasty and/or vascular-plasty for hilar lung cancer (2).