Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Minor Procedures

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (uVATS) is gaining popularity for lung resections, including complex cases.
• The technique's reproducibility and learning curve for complex procedures are areas of ongoing investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution from multiportal to uniportal VATS.
• To explore the feasibility and reproducibility of uVATS, identifying its limitations.

Main Methods:

• Literature search on PubMed using terms related to uniportal and single-port thoracic surgery.
• Exclusion of pediatric, non-English, and individual case reports.

Main Results:

• uVATS is widely adopted for minor thoracic procedures.
• The transition from multiportal to uVATS is described, with increasing global adoption for major lung resections.

Conclusions:

• uVATS is a feasible, safe, and effective technique for minor thoracoscopic procedures.
• The technique is reproducible with an intuitive learning curve due to non-crossing instruments.
• uVATS should be considered for all patients undergoing minor thoracoscopic procedures.