Video-assisted thoracic surgery in a Nigerian teaching hospital: Experience and challenges

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is well established. Its application in Nigeria has however been limited and not been reported. The aim of this study was to describe our institutional experience and challenges with VATS.

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all patients that underwent VATS in our institution between March 2008 and June 2013. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database.

Two hundred and sixty-one patients were assessed as potential VATS cases. VATS was initiated in 26 patients, but completed in 25 patients (9.6%) as there was one case of conversion of a planned VATS bullectomy due to the failure of one lung ventilation. There were 12 males and 13 females. Mean age was 40.7 ± 13.9 years. The indication was interstitial lung disease in 9 patients (36%), malignant pleural effusion in 6 patients (24%), spontaneous pneumothorax in 5 patients (20%), indeterminate pulmonary nodule in 2 patients (8%), pleural endometriosis in 2 patients (8%) and bronchogenic cyst in one patient (4%). Procedures performed were lung biopsy in 13 patients (52%), pleural biopsy and pleurodesis in 6 patients (24%), bullectomy and pleurodesis in 5 patients (20%) and excision of bronchogenic cyst in one patient (4%). Mean hospital stay was 4 ± 0.7 days. There were no complications and no mortalities.

VATS is being performed in our institution with successful outcomes. The use of VATS in Nigeria is encouraged. The relatively high cost of VATS is, however, a major limitation to more widespread use.