RT Book, Section A1 Ellison, E. Christopher A1 Zollinger, Jr., Robert M. A1 Pawlik, Timothy M. A1 Vaccaro, Patrick S. A1 Bitans, Marita A1 Baker, Anthony S. SR Print(0) ID 1187820596 T1 Thoracoscopy T2 Zollinger’s Atlas of Surgical Operations, 11e YR 2022 FD 2022 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781260440850 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1187820596 RD 2024/11/09 AB This type of approach is ideal for a wide variety of elective and urgent procedures. Through this approach, the lung, mediastinum, pericardium, diaphragm, esophagus, sympathetic chain, and chest wall are well visualized. Over the last decade, minimally invasive surgical techniques have gained widespread acceptance as technological improvements in imaging systems and instrumentation have occurred. Thoracoscopy has become the procedure of choice for the management of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer, posterior and mediastinal mass biopsy or excision, primary spontaneous pneumothorax, fibropurulent empyema, evacuation of hemothorax, management of effusive pericardial disease, sympathetic chain ablation for hyperhidrosis, pleural biopsy, and recurrent pleural effusions. Depending on the indication, thoracoscopy therefore can be used both as a diagnostic and/or a therapeutic intervention. For successful thoracoscopy, a sound understanding of surgical anatomy is essential because of the limitation of viewing angles and reduction of tactile sense.