Even hearing the name of lung cancer, which is among the most common cancers, is enough to scare people. Every year, more than 2 million people in the world and 40 thousand people in our country are diagnosed with 'lung cancer', of which smoking is the most important risk factor.
Acıbadem Maslak Hospital Thoracic Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu pointed out that although it ranks first among deaths from cancer, early-stage lung cancers can be treated with a high success rate today thanks to the giant steps taken in their treatment, and said, “The most common and main treatment method of early-stage lung cancer is surgical removal of the tumor. Today, most of the lung cancer surgeries are performed with closed surgeries that offer many advantages to the patient. Thanks to the developed techniques, successful results of up to 70% can be achieved in early-stage lung cancer surgeries, and patients can continue their healthy lives for many years.” says.
Single Port VATS method: Lots of benefits!
Among the closed surgeries used in the treatment of lung cancer, the most striking method in recent years is the Single Port VATS method, in which all procedures are performed with a single small incision made from the thorax! The most important advantage of the method, which is applied in few centers in the world and in our country; It allows patients to breathe very easily after the surgery and increases the chance of success in the fight against cancer, as it does not reduce immunity! Thoracic Surgeon Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu stated that this method also allows diagnosis and treatment procedures to be performed in the same operation, and said, “If the tumor is found to be malignant in the pathology examination, the cancer is treated with the simultaneous surgery. This allows for the earliest diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.” says.
Operations are performed through a single incision
Lung cancer is carried out in two ways: 'open surgeries' performed by opening the ribs widely, and 'closed surgeries' performed by projecting images onto the screen with a camera advanced between the ribs without opening the chest cavity. Closed lung cancer surgeries are divided into 2 groups: standard VATS method, robotic method and Single Port VATS method. In the standard VATS and robotic method, the procedures are performed by entering the chest cavity through an incision made in 3 or 2 places. Thoracic Surgeon Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu states that in the Single Port VATS method, which is applied under general anesthesia, the disease is entered into the chest cavity through only a single 3-2 cm incision, and explains how the method is applied: “Afterwards, a 3 mm surgical camera is advanced to the diseased area. While the surgeon sees the images obtained through the camera on the screen, he performs the operation with other surgical instruments that he advances through the same incision. The operation is completed after the diseased mass is placed in a surgical bag called 'endobag' and taken out of the chest cavity.
The patient's recovery period is shortened!
Making fewer incisions in thoracic surgery is extremely important for the health of the patient. Since there are vital heart, lungs and great vessels in the thoracic cavity, this region is covered with protective nerve networks that are much wider than other parts of the body. Thus, at the slightest danger that may occur in this vital area, pain occurs and the patient is taken under protection. "For this reason, the more incisions you make in the chest area, the more the damage to the nerves in that area and the resulting pain will increase," said Prof. Thoracic Surgery Specialist. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu continues: “The increase in pain after surgery can cause difficulty in breathing normally, delay in transitioning to a normal life, and a decrease in immunity. Performing the operations with a single small incision in the surgeries performed on the thorax avoids these problems and provides the patient with many advantages.”
Diagnosis and treatment in a single operation!
The Single Port VATS method also provides a significant benefit in the 'diagnosis' phase of lung cancer. Due to the size and location of the tumor, needle biopsy or bronchoscopy is not sufficient for the diagnosis of some lung tumors. In patients with suspected lung cancer, in cases where no results can be obtained with procedures such as bronchoscopy or needle biopsy, biopsy can be performed by seeing the lesion with the Single Port VATS method. Since the piece taken is large enough, this method also allows all genetic tests of cancer to be done. If the mass is found to be malignant in the pathology examination, the cancerous tissue is removed from the body with a simultaneous surgery.
What are the benefits of Single Port VATS?
- Short operation time
- Low surgical complications
- Extremely low amount of bleeding
- Reducing the risk of pneumonia and lung collapse to a minimum level thanks to very comfortable breathing after the surgery
- Reducing the need to stay in the intensive care unit after surgery
- Thanks to very little damage to the immune system, the patient can fight cancer more strongly
- No cosmetic problems due to only one small incision
- Able to be discharged from the hospital in a short time
- Minimal pain after surgery
- Much shorter time to return to normal life after surgery
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