First Awake Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery to Remove Lung Tumor

17 May 2017

The first awake video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in Greece to remove a lung tumor, without administration of general anesthesia, was successfully performed at HYGEIA Hospital. The patient was under conscious sedation throughout the procedure.

The procedure was performed on a patient with heart problems and reduced respiratory adequacy. Lung biopsies have been performed recently using the same technique on patients with affected respiratory function.

Commenting on the procedure the Director of the HYGEIA Thoracic Surgery Clinic, Mr Kosmas Iliadis, thoracic surgeon, noted, “The Awake VATS technique avoids paralysis of the patient, who regains respiratory function after surgery. This reduces postoperative respiratory and heart complications on a large group of patients with existing health problems. These patients, who would otherwise have not been eligible for surgery, can now benefit from this technique, since the risks are clearly lower.”

The benefits for the patient include shorter hospitalization, faster recovery, lower cost and faster return to normal activities.

This method is performed in dedicated centers abroad. It is mainly suitable for patients with very affected respiratory function, as well as the elderly, given that it reduces the complications of general anesthesia.