The VATS Lobectomy Book (PDF)

by M.D. Brian Housman F.A.C.S., M.D. Raja Flores

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) was the first cardiothoracic application of a minimally invasive surgical technique. In the right patient, the VATS lobectomy approach has meaningful advantages. VATS can offer better visualization, shorter operative times, less pain from smaller incisions, and a reduced length of stay. Beyond that, the technique preserves tactile feedback and works with a large variety of instruments–all at a lower cost than robotic surgery. Despite this fact, there are limited materials available to teach VATS Surgery. The few resources that do teach lobectomy often lose the forest in the trees (or the PA in the parenchyma). Key anatomy is obscured by diagrams with overwhelming detail, or live operative pictures that are often difficult to identify.
The VATS Lobectomy Book aims to establish a standardized approach to lobectomy, utilizing a picture-based approach that shows the anatomy as it normally lies and how it changes after each step in the procedure. The images in the book are oversimplified by design; patients in the operating room will often look different from what is drawn, but the relationships will be the same. By understanding these relationships, surgeons will be able to operate with confidence even when the anatomy may not be readily visible. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand minimally invasive lobectomy through a clear, simplified approach.