Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy is Feasible Under Local Anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT) is a standard surgical procedure typically requiring general anesthesia (GA).
• Exploring alternative anesthesia methods for VAT is crucial for patient comfort and resource optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of performing multithoracoport VAT under local anesthesia (LA).

Main Methods:

• A total of 45 VAT procedures were conducted under LA in an endoscopy room.
• The study included 34 men and 11 women with a mean age of 46.8 years.

Main Results:

• No major complications occurred during or after the VAT procedures performed under LA.
• The procedure demonstrated effectiveness in diagnosing pleural malignancy, bacterial empyema, and tuberculosis, influencing treatment policy in 15 patients.
• Talc poudrage was performed for pneumothorax in 17 patients, and no conversions to GA were necessary.

Conclusions:

• Multithoracoport VAT under LA is a safe, effective, and logistically simple procedure.
• This approach eliminates the need for long waiting times and obviates the necessity for conversion to GA.
• VAT under LA presents a practical and efficient alternative for thoracic interventions.