[Thoracoscopic surgery of lung cancer]

Thoracoscopic surgery is a dream that was realized by the remarkable progress achieved in the video equipment system and the development of advanced surgical tools, in particular the endoscopic stapler. The main reasons for the rapid and wide introduction of thoracoscopic surgery are that patient injury is much less than with the traditional chest operation, there is no need for blood transfusion, the physical and mental loads on the patient are much less, and recovery from surgery is much faster. When performed by a skilled surgeon, it is a safe surgical operation, and this surgical technique may become applicable to about one-half of thoracic surgery. The application of robotics and the use of artificial satellites in the sector of thoracoscopic surgery may be possible in the future.