Thoracoscopy
Thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows a doctor to look at the inside of the chest (the thorax) using a camera called a thoracoscope. The camera is inserted through a small incision in the chest wall, and the images it captures are projected onto a monitor, allowing the doctor to see the inside of the chest without making a large incision. Thoracoscopy can be used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, including lung tumors, pleural effusions (a buildup of fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall), and empyema (an infection in the space between the lung and the chest wall).
During the procedure, the patient is given general anesthesia, so they will be unconscious and will not feel any pain during the procedure. The procedure can be done as an open procedure or a VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) depending on the complexity of the procedure
This procedure has several advantages over open thoracotomy, which is a more invasive procedure that requires a large incision in the chest wall. Thoracoscopy is less painful, has a shorter recovery time, and results in less scarring than open thoracotomy. It also allows the doctor to see inside the chest more clearly than with traditional x-rays and can be used to biopsy (remove a sample of tissue for examination) lesions or take out small tumors.
