Acıbadem Maslak Hospital Thoracic Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu states that the Single Port VATS method, which is a closed surgical technique, has been frequently preferred by patients and physicians, especially in recent times. Combining diagnosis and treatment in the same operation, the method stands out among other techniques because it causes less pain and allows for a rapid recovery process after surgery.
ANNUAL SCREENING REDUCES DEATH RATE
Pointing out that lung cancer does not cause many complaints at the initial stage, Prof. Thoracic Surgery Specialist. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu lists the symptoms that occur over time as “cough, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, pain in different parts of the body, hoarseness, swelling in the face, difficulty in swallowing, coughing up blood from the mouth”. prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu emphasizes the importance of catching lung cancer at an early stage, when symptoms are not yet seen, and recommends that low-dose screening tomography be performed once a year, especially for people aged 50-80 and those who smoke for a long time but quit before 15 years. Because, thanks to these screening programs, early diagnosis can be made, so deaths due to lung cancer decrease. Stating that the treatment rate in the early stage has very successful results, Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu said, “The most common and basic treatment approach at this stage is surgical removal of the tumor. Today, at the point where medical technologies have come, we can talk about successful treatment results of up to 70 percent thanks to closed surgeries.”
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME
Noting that the Single Port VATS method has come to the fore among closed surgeries recently, Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu states that the whole procedure is performed with a small incision in the chest. Single Port VATS is mostly preferred because it allows patients to breathe very easily after surgery and does not lower their immunity. Moreover, since the diagnosis and treatment procedures can be performed in the same operation with this method, if the pathology examination shows that the tumor is malignant, the patient can be treated without losing time with the intervention of the physician.
“NOT 2 OR 3, IT’S SINGLE INCLUSION”
Lung cancer surgeries are divided into two groups: ‘open surgeries’ in which the ribs are opened, and ‘closed surgeries’ performed with camera images taken between the ribs without opening the thoracic cavity. Stating that closed surgeries are also divided into 3 as standard VATS, robotic method and Single Port VATS method, Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu said, “In the standard VATS and robotic method, 2 or 3 incisions are made in the chest cavity. In the Single Port VATS method performed under general anesthesia, it is entered through a single incision of 2-3 cm. While evaluating the images obtained from the diseased area through the surgical camera on the screen, he performs the operation through the same incision.
PATIENT’S HEALING PROCESS IS SHORTENED
Since the heart, lungs and great vessels are located in the thorax, this sensitive area is surrounded by protective neural networks much more than other parts of the body. For this reason, even the smallest problem in this vital area causes pain. Therefore, the fewer incisions in the rib cage, the less damage to the nerves and the less pain. The more the incision, the greater the possibility of pain after surgery, difficulty in breathing, prolongation of the transition to daily routine and weakening of immunity. Thoracic Surgeon Prof. Dr. Semih Halezeroğlu, the advantages of Single Port VATS, which offers a single incision, said, “Minimizing the risk of pneumonia and lung collapse due to short operation time, low complications, low amount of bleeding, very comfortable breathing after the surgery, reduction in intensive care period after surgery, The immune system is less damaged, the patient is able to fight cancer more powerfully, there are fewer cosmetic problems, the discharge in a short time, less pain complaints and a much shorter time to return to daily routine.