Devising the guidelines: the concept of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery—incisions and anesthetic management

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an already established minimally invasive technique in the field of thoracic surgery. The feasibility, safety and efficacy of the technique are already well documented. Comparative studies and meta-analyses have shown a clear advantage over open surgery and other minimally invasive techniques in terms of pain, length of stay (LOS), chest drain duration and morbidity. It covers a broad spectrum of indications for both malignant and benign diseases, including pulmonary and mediastinal tumor resections, diaphragm procedures (plication), esophageal surgery and airway surgery (bronchial resections, carinal resections). Its swift and wide adoption has resulted into many variations, all of whom are common in the fact they utilize a single incision to enter the chest and conduct the planned procedure. With this article, we attempt to standardize the technique as to the incision and the anesthetic management.