Thoracoscopy Cost in Mumbai

The indications for medical thoracoscopy treatment are:

• Pleurodesis
• Staging for mesothelioma
• Staging for lung cancer
• Site directed biopsy of parietal pleura
• Diagnosis of idiopathic pleural effusions

The major indications for VATS include:

• Pleural biopsy
• Pneumonectomy or lobectomy
• Adenopathy of evaluation of medistinal tumours
• Stapled lung biopsy
• Pleurodesis of malignant effusions
• Resection of peripheral pulmonary nodule

A thoracoscopic surgery does not take very long, with the procedure generally being completed between 45 and 90 minutes. General or local anaesthesia is administered to the patient depending on the nature of the procedure. Local anaesthesia is used if the procedure involves only thoracoscopic lung biopsy and general anaesthesia is administered when the procedure also includes surgical treatment. Doctors may also administer additional dosages if required. Some of the steps to be taken while preparing for a thoracoscopic surgery are:

• Exercise regularly on the days prior to the surgery in order to keep the body in the best possible shape
• Stop taking insulin, anti-inflammatory medication and aspirin products at least 1 week before the procedure
• Do not smoke for at least 1 month before the surgery
• Do not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before thoracoscopy. 

1. The anaesthesiologist puts you under the suitable anaesthesia to put you to sleep. Once asleep, you are positioned on the side
2. Several small incisions are made on the side of the chest
3. A thin flexible tube fitted with a small camera is inserted from one of the incisions
4. Once the doctors have completed the examination, the required surgical equipment is inserted through other incisions
5. Once the procedure is completed, thin tubes are placed in the chest to drain out the residual fluid and air.
6. The incisions are closed by stitches or staples

Patients are generally kept under observation in the hospital for 2-3 days after the procedure to make sure there are no complications. While a thoracoscopic lung biopsy is generally carried out to identify the signs for pleural mesothelioma, other types of chest cancer can also be detected in the process.

Thoracoscopy can also be used to diagnose chest diseases which other procedures have failed to identify. The chest tubes inserted into the incisions must be kept in place for several days.

• The patient should strictly follow the medication course prescribed by the doctor.
• Perform breathing and coughing exercises to prevent pneumonia.
• Notify the doctor immediately in case of excessive bleeding or chest pain.

The risks associated with a thoracoscopic procedure include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Risks associated with the general anaesthesia that is used in the procedure
• Infection
• Pneumothorax, a condition which involves leakage of air from the lungs to the pleural cavity, often leading to a collapse of the lungs
• Perforation of the diaphragm