Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What is minimally invasive thoracic surgery? —
Minimally invasive thoracic surgery, or "MITS," is a way to do surgery with less damage than in "open" surgery. "Thoracic" means that the surgery involves the chest area between the neck and belly.
In open surgery, doctors make 1 large cut, or "incision," in the skin. This lets them see directly into the body. During minimally invasive surgery, instead of making 1 large incision, doctors make 1 or a few smaller incisions. Then, they use special tools to see and work inside the body.
There are 2 kinds of MITS:
●Video-assisted thoracic surgery, or "VATS" – The doctors use a "scope" to see inside the body. A scope is a long flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. The camera sends videos to a screen the doctor can see. The doctor moves the tools to do the surgery.
●Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, or "RATS" – RATS is the same as VATS, except the doctors use a machine called a surgical robot to do the surgery. The doctor moves the robot's arms using special controls to do the surgery. Using the robot lets the doctor be even more exact with their movements.
When would a doctor use MITS? —
They might use MITS to diagnose and treat certain conditions that affect organs and tissues in the chest. For example, they can:
●Take biopsies or remove tumors
●Remove fluid or air from around the lungs
●Treat problems like hernias, infections, or too much sweating
●Treat problems with the lung, heart, or esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach)
●Do surgery on the ribs, spine, or diaphragm
How is MITS done? —
It depends on the type of surgery. For many types of MITS, the doctor will:
●Make a small incision in the skin
●Push the scope through it so they can see inside the body
●Make other small incisions on the body
●Pass special long, thin tools through these incisions, then use these tools to work inside the body
●Open up the space inside the body using either gas or fluid, so there is more room to work
How is MITS different from open surgery? —
It is usually easier to recover from MITS than from open surgery. That's because:
●There are usually a few small incisions, rather than 1 big incision.
●If the doctor can do the surgery with MITS, they might not need to cut through the sternum (breastbone) or spread the ribs open. This reduces pain after surgery.
But MITS can take a bit longer. People who have MITS can still have pain, need stitches, and have risks, just like with open surgery.
Can I always choose to have MITS? —
No. The type of surgery you can have depends on:
●Whether there is a doctor who can do the type of surgery you need
●Why you need surgery – For example, people who need it to remove very large cancers might need to have open surgery.
People with serious heart or lung problems might not be able to have MITS.
What else should I know? —
Sometimes, doctors need to switch to open surgery after starting a minimally invasive surgery. This might happen if the doctor finds something unexpected. This doesn't mean that the doctor has done anything wrong. It is usually done to keep you safe.
Patient education: Minimally invasive surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Robot-assisted surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Lung biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Thoracentesis (The Basics)
Patient education: Hiatal hernia (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) (The Basics)
