Docs perform less invasive surgery to treat lung cancer

Chandigarh, January 9

A 70-year-old man who was suffering from lung cancer was successfully treated by a team of doctors with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Talking to the media here today, Dr Vijay Jagdish Jagad, consultant, Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, said this minimally invasive surgery was the first-of-its-kind procedure performed by the team led by him.

The technique uses a thoracoscope that is introduced into the patient’s chest via a 5-6 cm small incision. The tumour can then be excised through videos transmitted through a thoracoscope onto a video monitor guiding the surgeon in performing the procedure.

Dr Jagad said, “The patient was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor of lung. The patient was advised a dotanoc pet scan, which revealed lesion confined to the left lung. If left undiagnosed and untreated, then it could have spread to his brain, liver and bones and harmed him immensely. The surgery was successful and the patient was discharged on fifth post-operative day.” The technique has multiple advantages over open procedure. It is minimally invasive, which means it is less painful, minimal loss of blood and swifter recovery. — TNS