[MINIMALLY INVASIVE THORACIC SURGERY: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES].

Area of Science:

• General Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques
• Thoracoscopy

Context:

• The early 1990s marked a significant shift in general thoracic surgery with the advent of thoracoscopic surgery.
• Thoracoscopic surgery has achieved widespread acceptance globally.
• Emerging minimally invasive approaches, including single-port, needlescopic, and robot-assisted thoracic surgery, face challenges in broad clinical adoption.

Purpose:

• To review the evolution and current status of minimally invasive general thoracic surgery.
• To highlight the widespread acceptance of thoracoscopic surgery.
• To identify the barriers to the adoption of advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgical techniques.

Summary:

• Minimally invasive general thoracic surgery advanced significantly with the introduction of thoracoscopic surgery in the early 1990s.
• While thoracoscopy is widely adopted, newer techniques like single-port, needlescopic, and robot-assisted thoracic surgery require further development.
• Continued innovation in surgical instruments and equipment is essential for the broader implementation of these advanced minimally invasive procedures.

Impact:

• Facilitated a new era of less invasive thoracic surgical procedures.
• Established thoracoscopic surgery as a standard of care in many regions.
• Indicates a need for technological innovation to enhance the accessibility and efficacy of advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery.