How long are you in hospital after VATS?

Typically, hospital stays after VATS are 1 to 4 days. Recovery after surgery is a gradual process. Recovery time varies depending on the procedure, type of anesthesia, your general health, your age, and other factors. The care team will teach you how to use a spirometer and how to do deep breathing exercises.

How long before you go home after VATS surgery?

Patients who have a VATS lobectomy are usually able to go home 3 to 4 days after surgery.

How long does it take to recover from robotic lung surgery?

Robotic-assisted surgery for lung cancer requires a person to stay in the hospital for a few days. Following discharge, most people recover at home within 2–3 weeks.

Is VATS high risk surgery?

Conclusions: VATS lobectomy offers patients who are considered to be at increased risk for open lobectomy a feasible procedure, with no difference in overall survival compared with SR patients, and decreased morbidity compared with open lobectomy.

What happens after VATS lung surgery?

In general, you may be able to return to work (if you have a sedentary job), resume driving and participate in most non-strenuous activities within 4 to 6 weeks after minimally invasive thoracic surgery. You can resume heavy lifting and other more strenuous activities within 6 to 12 weeks after surgery.

Is a VATS procedure painful?

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is generally considered to be a less invasive and painful approach than open thoracotomy (1-4).

How long does pain last after robotic lung surgery?

Numbness and tenderness around your incisions is normal and can last for six to eight weeks. When you shower, you can get the incisions wet. It is important to not scrub the incisions and only use a towel to gently pat dry. Driving and returning to work: Do not drive until you are off all pain medications.

What is VATS surgery on the lung?

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a procedure in which a small tube called a thoracoscope is inserted through a small incision between the ribs. At the end of the tube is a small camera. This lets the surgeon see the entire chest cavity without having to open up the chest or spread the ribs.

What is an air leak after VATS?

An air leak after pulmonary resection is almost always caused by an alveolar pleural fistula, which is defined as a communication between the pulmonary parenchyma distal to a segmental bronchus and the pleural space. Prolonged air leak (PAL) is reported to be the most common complication after lung resection.

Why is a VATS procedure done?

One common reason to do VATS is to remove part of a lung because of cancer. You have 2 lungs: a right lung and a left lung. These lungs connect to your mouth through a series of tubes. Through these tubes, the lungs bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide from the body.

Should I still feel tight after lung surgery 2 months?

Your Recovery It is common to feel tired for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Your chest may hurt and be swollen for up to 6 weeks. It may ache or feel stiff for up to 3 months. For up to 3 months, you may also feel tightness, itching, numbness, or tingling around the cut (incision) the doctor made.

How long does recovery take from mitral valve surgery?

Mitral valve surgery recovery is different for each person, but mitral valve repair recovery typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Learn more about factors that affect mitral valve surgery recovery time, what to expect after heart valve surgery, and whether mitral valve surgery is painful.

How long does recovery take following maze procedure?

The length of recovery time after a maze procedure varies depending on the type of surgery you’ve had. Open-chest surgery requires a longer hospital stay and more healing time. Most who undergo an open-heart maze can return to work, school, and everyday activities between 8 and 10 weeks after surgery.

What is average thoracotomy recovery time?

The thoracotomy wound should heal within 2 months, and the pain will gradually decrease over this time. In some cases, nerves become damaged during surgery. This may cause ongoing pain and is called post-thoracotomy pain syndrome.

How could robotic surgery reduce recovery time?

Robotics procedures, and minimally invasive surgeries in general, involve smaller incisions than traditional “open” surgeries, which reduces blood loss and postoperative recovery times. Patients typically experience significantly less pain and blood loss than in conventional “open incision” procedures.