Minimally invasive surgery poses lesser risk for lung cancer

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http://news.webindia123.com/news/showde ... &cat=World

Washington | December 11, 2005 5:25:52 PM IST

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive surgery, may increase options for people in their eighties with some lung cancers by removing part or all of a lung.

The study was conducted on a group of 159 patients between ages 0 and 94 suggests

Robert McKenna Jr, M.D., thoracic surgeon, surgical director of the Center for Chest Diseases and chief of Thoracic Surgery and Trauma at Cedars-Sinai, said that the study showed that it was possible to conduct a standard complete lung cancer surgery in people over 80 with very low risk and good success.

"Our study shows that we can do a standard, complete lung cancer surgery in people over 80 with very low risk and good success so that older patients with lung cancer do not have to suffer the consequences of widespread cancer," he said

In the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, only several small incisions through which instruments and a thoracoscope are inserted are required. A camera lens at the tip of the scope feeds high-resolution images to a video monitor, giving the surgeon a detailed, magnified view.

McKenna further added that the number of patients who experienced any type of complication after undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, was very low.

"Compared to the percentage of people who experience any type of complication after a major pulmonary resection, our numbers were low, and especially low for patients in this age range," he said.

He also said that this type of procedure remained a viable option for elderly people.

"If you knew that you could get several additional years to live by having a procedure with low risk and good success in preventing widespread cancer, you might want the option of putting up with the short-term inconvenience of having that operation," he added. (ANI)

[Ellen B.]

Interesting! Thanks for posting,

Ellen.