Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy under Local Anesthesia
Author Information
Author(s): HANS J.M. SMIT, FRANZ M.N.H. SCHRAMEL, TOM G. SUTEDJA, LUUD S.C. TER LAAK-UYTENHAAK, MARJOLEIN H. NANNES-POLS, PIETER E. POSTMUS
Primary Institution: Free University Hospital
Hypothesis
Is video-assisted thoracoscopy feasible under local anesthesia?
Conclusion
Video-assisted thoracoscopy under local anesthesia is safe, effective, and requires no long waiting times.
Supporting Evidence
- There were no major complications during or after the VAT.
- VAT influenced treatment policy 15 times.
- The average duration of VAT under LA was 15 minutes.
- Patients could return to the ward immediately after the procedure.
- Mean hospitalization time after VAT was 4.1 days.
Takeaway
Doctors can perform a type of lung surgery called video-assisted thoracoscopy without putting patients to sleep, and it works well.
Methodology
Forty-five video-assisted thoracoscopies were performed under local anesthesia in a standard endoscopy room.
Limitations
The study did not compare the diagnostic yield with VAT under general anesthesia.
Participant Demographics
34 men and 11 women, mean age 46.8 years.
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