The state of the art of the minimally invasive thoracic surgery in Italy.

Abstract

Our discipline is in the centre of revolutionary changes. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is nowadays considered an acceptable approach for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, as recommended by current guidelines. VATS approaches present a decreased operative trauma with a subsequent reduction in both postoperative and long-term pain when compared to thoracotomy, without differences in oncological and survival outcomes.