Cardiac applications of video assisted thoracic surgery

As experience with video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has grown, cardiac applications of VATS are being explored. Simple cardiac procedures including pericardiectomy and epicardial pacemaker lead placement are readily accomplished by VATS. More complex cardiac procedures are being investigated both in the laboratory and in the clinical arena. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting has been successfully performed in the animal model. Modification of existing instrumentation and techniques has had an enabling benefit. The human experience consists of predominantly a video assisted minithoracotomy approach with some successful promise. More advanced procedures including minimally invasive valve replacement are also being explored.