Dr. Subhasis Saha

MBBS(Cal), MS, M.Ch, DNB (Pediatric Surgery)

Pediatric Thoracoscopy in Kolkata, India

Minimal Invasive Surgery - Thoracoscopy

Any lesion in the chest cavity of a child needs opening up of the chest. Traditionally it usually involves opening up on one side of the chest with a large incision. Besides causing immediate severe post-operative pain, it may cause incapacitation, restriction of playful activities and generalized ill being. As the wound heals, the child may have restrictive cartilage growth on the side of the operation and that may lead to Scoliosis (bending of the spine on one side).

With the advent of thoracoscopic surgery, we can now do without those erstwhile large incisions. With 2 or 3 minutes holes in the chest, we can do all procedures required with a greater magnification and dexterity. The post-operative recovery is remarkably fast. The method is popularly known as VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery)


Common surgeries amenable to Minimal Invasive (Thoracoscopic) approach:

• Mediastinal Lymph Node Biopsy
• Lung Biopsy
• VATS Drainage of Empyema , Pneumothorax
• VATS Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia / Eventration
• VATS Repair of Diaphragmatic Injury
• VATS Lobectomy
• VATS Repair of Esophageal Atresia with Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula