Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Program

Overview

The Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Program within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Thoracic Surgery Department offers advanced surgical treatment for patients with thoracic conditions.

Minimally invasive procedures offer a way of performing thoracic surgery without making large cuts or incisions in the body and without the need to separate the ribs. The procedures use small incisions, through which a very small camera and instruments are inserted. There are two main types of minimally invasive thoracic procedures: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted surgery.

Our thoracic surgeons use minimally invasive techniques to enhance surgical precision, while reducing pain and recovery time for patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The team offers specialized multidisciplinary care, working closely with pulmonologists, medical oncologists and radiologists to offer personalized treatment plans for each patient.

What We Treat

Chest wall tumors
Early-stage lung cancer
Emphysema
Esophageal diverticula
Esophageal tumors
Hyperhidrosis
Lung nodules
Mediastinal cysts
Metastatic lung disease
Mesothelioma
Myasthenia gravis
Thymoma
Tracheal disease
Tracheal tumors.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

Minimally invasive thoracic procedures are used whenever possible to limit incisions, reduce pain and help you recover faster. These techniques are often used for procedures such as diaphragm plication and lung cancer surgery.

During minimally invasive procedures, a small camera and surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions to perform the procedure. This is called video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

VATS procedures allow the surgeon to see inside the chest without having to make major incisions or separate the ribs.

Minimally invasive surgery can also be performed with the assistance of robots. The robot holds the instruments and camera, but the surgeon is still in control and operates via a console next to the patient.

Learn more about minimally invasive thoracic surgery here.