Apollo uses VATS to successfully treat lung cancer patient

Apollo Cancer Centre Chennai in India has introduced the Tubeless Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) system to treat lung cancer for the first time in the country.

This technology has successfully been used to treat a 15-year old patient from Bangladesh, said a media statement issued on Thursday.

The Tubeless VATS procedure is a game changer in the treatment of lung cancer as it provides better and quicker recovery in patients with extreme complications and could be performed even as a day surgery in certain cases. 

In October 2019, Md Nahid Hasan was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma of the left femur (left thigh bone) in Bangladesh. This is a very rare cancerous tumor that grows in bones or the soft tissue around bones, such as cartilage or nerves. It typically affects people aged between 10 and 20 years.

In December 2020, Nahid was brought to Apollo Cancer Centre Chennai for further investigation and care. The cancer was found to have spread to multiple spots in the upper lobe of his left lung.

Taking into consideration his previous health complications, the patient was then advised to undergo the Tubeless VATS procedure. The minimally invasive surgery was performed to remove his lung metastasis nodule without the insertion of any tubes into his body cavity. The procedure was successfully carried out and Nahid was discharged the next day.

Speaking about the procedure, Dr Abhijith Das, consultant thoracic oncologist, Apollo Cancer Centre, said, "The Tubeless VATS technique has multiple advantages when compared to other conventional procedures. It is minimally invasive, which means it is less painful and recovery is quicker."

The technique also has minimal effect on the patient's immune status, which is a definite improvement over an open surgery. The chances of post-operative infections and complications are reduced with this procedure.

Problems associated with intubation, chest drainage and urinary catheterization can also be avoided through tubeless VATS."

Preetha Reddy, vice chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "In 2020 alone, more than 13 lakh cancer cases were recorded, with 8.5 lakh succumbing to the disease, according to the WHO's statistics."

"In India, Apollo Hospitals have been at the forefront of the battle against cancer through the adoption of the latest technology and initiatives. Apollo Cancer Centres have been taking all possible measures to keep the premises as safe as possible for cancer patients by undertaking various essential parameters and restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.