Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has significantly transformed the field of thoracic surgery over the last decade. Since its inception in the early 1990s, VATS has expanded its reach from being used for minor procedures to becoming a go-to approach for all types of thoracic interventions. By the 2000s and 2010s, large series and meta-analyses further solidified its positions, proving its oncological safety and benefits, such as reduced postoperative complications and quicker patient recovery. Nowadays, various VATS techniques, including triportal, biportal, and uniportal, have overshadowed the conventional thoracotomy, becoming the standard approach for many thoracic surgeries worldwide.
This Research Topic aims to assemble a comprehensive collection on the evolution, advancements, and clinical outcomes associated with VATS procedures over the past decade. It seeks to delve into the growing prominence of VATS in managing various thoracic conditions, particularly in lung cancer, pleural diseases, mediastinal tumors, and esophageal procedures. The article collection will highlight as well current trends and future perspectives, such as the integration of 3D imaging and artificial intelligence, the advancement towards uniportal VATS techniques, and the comparison with robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS). Further, trends in surgical training, surgeon learning curves, and global adoption rates will also be analyzed to identify obstacles and enablers for widespread implementation.
The Research Topic encompasses significant boundaries and limitations within VATS studies. Articles focusing on specific insights into the evolution, impact, and future of VATS are encouraged. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: o Evolution and historical milestones of VATS o Clinical outcomes and comparison of various VATS techniques o Integration of technology: 3D imaging and AI in VATS o VATS versus robotic-assisted thoracic surgery o Trends in surgical training and global adoption of VATS techniques
The collection welcomes several article types, including but not limited to Original Research, Reviews, General Commentary, and Case Reports evaluating the impact of VATS in the last decade or future perspectives.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Classification
Clinical Trial
Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Mini Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Classification
Clinical Trial
Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Mini Review
Opinion
Original Research
Perspective
Review
Systematic Review
Keywords: minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung cancer pleural diseases, esophageal diseases, mediastinal diseases, artificial intelligence, new surgical devices
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
