Do the stretching exercises described in the “What exercises can I do?” section below. The amount of time you will need to recover depends on the surgery you had. Family and friends can help. The VATS procedure uses an endoscope to explore the lungs. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. Ask your doctor how much you should drink each day. When can I start doing other kinds of exercise? Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. Taking a warm shower is relaxing and can help decrease muscle aches. Always balance activity periods with rest periods. The first 24 hours will be in the intensive care unit. You may have some numbness below and in front of your incisions. If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach: Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to). Look at your incisions with your nurse before you leave the hospital. There will be incisions from the surgical site and the chest tube. This is normal. Please do not call your doctor about getting vaccinated. Tell the nurse if you drink alcohol every day or if you have recently stopped drinking alcohol. Talk with your doctor or nurse about possible side effects and when you should start switching to over-the-counter pain medications. Spread them out over the course of the day. This excerpt from About Your Thoracic Surgery describes what to expect after your thoracic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), both during your hospital stay and after you leave the hospital. Your doctor will take these out 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery. That makes it a less invasive procedure with a quicker recovery. In minimally invasive surgery, your heart surgeon may have a better view of some parts of your heart than in open-heart surgery. Your nurse will give you instructions on how to make this appointment, including the phone number to call. Drink liquids to help keep your mucus thin and easy to cough up. It is even more so as you’re healing after your surgery. Pat the areas dry with a towel after showering, and leave your incisions uncovered (unless there is drainage). Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to). A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive thoracic surgery that does not use a traditional open surgery approach. Regained full movement of the arm and shoulder on the side of your surgery. Look at your incision(s) with your nurse before you leave the hospital so you know what it looks like. Slide your hands down to the back of your neck. In a scalenectomy, the scalene muscles—which pass through the thoracic outlet—are removed to reduce compression on the nerves, arteries, and veins in the area. Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. Pain medication may cause constipation (having fewer bowel movements than what’s normal for you). We read every comment, but we're not able to respond. If you have drainage, keep wearing a bandage until the drainage stops. The hospital stay for open surgery is longer than it is for VATS. When you are discharged home your surgeon will give you specific instructions for foll… You may want to take a fibre supplement every day. If you're a patient at MSK and you need to reach a provider after 5:00, All rights owned and reserved by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, © 2021 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, How to Enroll in MyMSK: Memorial Sloan Kettering's Patient Portal, Commonly Asked Questions: During Your Hospital Stay. Don’t do heavy exercise or play contact sports until your doctor tells you it’s safe. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner. If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. During this appointment, your doctor will discuss the pathology results with you in detail. You will gradually start eating your normal diet again when you’re ready. If you have questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider. Slowly twist the upper part of your body to the right side. You have loose stitches, or your incisions come open. You will normally be sent an appointment to see your consultant surgeon in the outpatient department within two to six weeks of your discharge from hospital – this may be as soon as 10 days if you have had a surgical biopsy. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Bright red blood has soaked through the bandage over your incision. This is done with a thoracoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a light and a small video camera on the end.The tube is put in through a small cut made near the lower end of the shoulder blade between the ribs. You may need to spend the first day after surgery in an intensive care unit (ICU). Don’t smoke. Try to hold the position for 5 seconds. Take your medications as directed and as needed. During a VATSprocedure, a tiny camera (thoracoscope) and surgical instruments are inserted into your chest through one or more small incisions in your chest wall. Is it normal to feel tired after surgery? You will have stitches or staples in the incisions. How long will my recovery be? Read the pathway handout that your nurse gives you to see what to expect and how to help your recovery while you’re in the hospital. The type of surgery you have 2. These will help to relieve the pain on the side of your surgery. Do your breathing and coughing exercises every 1 to 2 hours while you’re awake. Write down any questions you have and be sure to ask your doctor or nurse. You will have more than 1 incision after your surgery. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. Drinks with caffeine, such as coffee and soda, pull fluid out of the body. Smoking causes the blood vessels in your body to become narrow. VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery). This will help you get stronger, feel better, and heal. Don’t take more acetaminophen than the amount directed on the bottle or as instructed by your doctor or nurse. You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood. It has historically also been referred to as pleuroscopy. The thoracoscope transmits images of the inside of your chest onto a video monitor, guiding the surgeon in performing the procedure. This is normal. Keep using your incentive spirometer and do your coughing and deep breathing exercises at home. Follow the directions for cleaning the machine. Follow the guidelines below. Many people say they felt weepy, sad, worried, nervous, irritable, and angry at one time or another. Rest when you feel tired. If this happens, cover the area with a bandage. Rest is a vital part of your recovery. Traditional lung operations are performed through a thoracotomy (a long incision on the side of the chest), which involves spreading the ribs. Dr. Rundall performed Hugen's surgery, using a minimally invasive technique known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to remove the entire upper lobe of his right lung. Your surgeon does this operation through two to four small cuts in the side of your chest, one about 2 ½ inches … RATS is similar to VATS in terms of less pain, blood loss, and recovery time. to learn about what you can do to stay safe and keep from falling while you’re in the hospital. An endoscope is a narrow bendable tube that has a light source on the end. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in your chest.During a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery procedure, a tiny camera (thoracoscope) and surgical instruments are inserted into your chest through small incisions in your chest wall. You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. Hold this position for 5 seconds while bringing your elbows as far back as possible. This will help prevent blood clots in your legs and lower your risk of developing pneumonia. Increase your activities each day as much as you can. You will probably need to take at least 1 to 2 weeks off from work. You can use MyMSK to send and receive messages from your healthcare team, view your test results, see your appointment dates and times, and more. Ask your doctor when it is safe for you to drive or fly. For more information, read the “How can I prevent constipation?” section below. Plan your activities for times of the day when you have more energy. You will have stitches or staples in the incisions. In minimally invasive heart surgery, heart (cardiac) surgeons perform heart surgery through small incisions in the right side of your chest, as an alternative to open-heart surgery.Surgeons don't cut through the breastbone (sternotomy). Start out slowly and increase your activity as you feel better. You can begin driving again after you have: Don’t travel by plane until your doctor says it’s okay. For more resources, visit www.mskcc.org/pe to search our virtual library. It’s important to control your pain so you can cough, breathe deeply, use your incentive spirometer, and get out of bed and walk. Still, the most important factor in the success of either type of thorascopic surgery is the surgeon’s experience and skill. Increase your activities each day as much as you can. MyMSK (my.mskcc.org) is your MSK patient portal account. Tell the nurse if you smoke or if you have recently quit smoking. Ask to speak to the thoracic surgeon on call. Rest is a vital part of your recovery. Your body is an excellent guide for telling you when you have done too much. Your chest tube and drainage device. It’s important for you to resume your activities after surgery. If you have questions about your diet, ask to see a dietitian. That means it uses smaller cuts (incisions) than traditional open surgery. You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health at any time. You can shower 48 hours after your chest tube is removed. After your stay in the PACU, you will be taken to your hospital room. Supply is limited. Stopped taking narcotic pain medication (pain medication that may make you drowsy) for 24 hours. Taking too much acetaminophen can harm your liver. Eating a balanced diet high in protein will help you heal after surgery. The time it takes to return to work depends on the type of work you do, the type of surgery you had, and how fast your body heals. For example, call if: Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems. The recovery time for VATS is relatively short compared to most surgical procedures. Take enough medication to do your exercises comfortably. Log in to create and save frequently used communication boards. A biopsy helps physicians narrow down an accurate diagnosis, which can inform your available treatment options. Use your incentive spirometer. The consultant surgeon will check your wounds and assess how well you are managing. Recovery time is different for everyone. VATS provides adequate visualization despite limited access to the thorax. You may find that you can’t control some of these feelings. For most people, this will be at least 8 to 10 (8-ounce) glasses of water or other liquids (such as juices) each day. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Your feedback will help us improve the information we provide to patients and caregivers. Don’t drive or drink alcohol while you’re taking prescription pain medication. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. Drink 8 (8-ounce) glasses (2 liters) of liquids daily, if you can. Change the water often. Taking a shower before bed and taking your prescribed pain medications can also help. It also lowers your risk of having other complications such as pneumonia. Recovery time is generally shorter after minimally invasive surgery compared to open surgery, but you will still need time to rest and recover. If you have strips of tape on the incisions, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. The patient experiences a more rapid recovery with less pain and a shorter hospital stay (usually 3 days) with video-assisted lobectomy as compared with traditional thoracotomy surgery. Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): What to Expect at Home, David C. Stuesse MD - Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery. This is common. After 48 hours, if you don’t have any drainage, you can remove the bandage and keep your incision uncovered. Similar t… For a smooth recovery and to help prevent further illness, follow these tips: Diet Eat well … Try to hold the position for 5 seconds. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. The location of your incisions will depend on the type of surgery you had. It’s simple, and it’s safe. You will get oxygen through a thin tube that rests below your nose called a nasal cannula. If any fluid is draining from your incision(s), write down the amount, color, and if it has a smell. This will help you know if there are any changes later. VATS Lobectomy Leads to Speedy Recovery. After the intensive care unit you will be moved to step down. Pain medication should help you resume your normal activities. Your doctor will talk with you if you need to stay in the hospital longer than planned. You can start doing this again right after your surgery, unless your doctor or nurse gives you other instructions. If your pain isn’t relieved, tell your doctor or nurse. The procedure may be performed in conjunction with surgery to remove an extra rib. Create a custom communication board for patients who are not able to use their voice. VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) uses smaller surgical cuts than traditional lung surgery. There, you will meet one of the nurses who will care for you while you’re in the hospital recovering from your surgery. I had a VATS (upper right lobe) in 2004. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to treat constipation. Use the arm and shoulder on the side of your surgery in all of your activities. This decreases the amount of oxygen that reaches your wounds as they’re healing. It may take some time until your normal sleep pattern returns. Grasp the towel behind your back and lift upward as far as possible (see Figure 4). Thoracoscopy is a procedure a doctor uses to look at the space inside the chest (outside of the lungs). Start doing arm and shoulder exercises as soon as your chest tube bandage is removed. For more information about signing up for a MyMSK account, watch our video How to Enroll in MyMSK: Memorial Sloan Kettering's Patient Portal. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in your chest. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Figure 1. Do not arch your back and do not force the movement if it is difficult. At first, you will get tired easily but this will improve slowly and steadily over the next few weeks. You may also have some tingling and increased sensitivity around your incisions as they heal. When is my first appointment after my surgery? Sometimes, the drainage may start again after it has stopped. Or VATS may have been done to operate on other organs in your chest. Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness. Surgery can take a lot of strength and energy out of you. You may get a prescription for pain medication before you leave the hospital. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a way to do surgery inside the chest using several small cuts (incisions) instead of one larger incision (open surgery). A lobectomy—removal of a lobe in a lung—is major surgery usually offered as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The first step in coping is to talk about how you feel. Whether you’re in the hospital or at home, the nurses, doctors, and social workers are here to help you and your family and friends handle the emotional aspects of your illness. Over the past 6,000 cases, more than 95% of our patients go home from the hospital 1-2 days after surgery. The amount of time you will need to recover depends on the surgery you had. Try not to nap during the day. Your nurse will explain the best way to recover from your surgery. If you haven’t had a bowel movement in 2 days, call your doctor or nurse. For more information, read our resource. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a type of surgery for diagnosing and treating a variety of conditions involving the chest area (thorax). Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry. Read our resource Call! You will talk about this during your first appointment after your surgery. Sit in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor. You'll need to take your time recovering from this procedure and will go through a period of healing in the hospital and then at home. It is common to feel tired for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Walking 1 mile each day, which is 14 laps around the unit while you’re still in the hospital, is a good goal. These surgeries, which can be necessary f… This will help you notice any changes once you’re at home. Change the bandage every day. One common reason to do VATS is to remove part of … This depends on the type of surgery you had. Your nurse, doctor, and social worker can reassure, support, and guide you. Always balance activity periods with rest periods. Recovery from a Thoracoscopy After the procedure, the chest tube must remain in place for at least two to three days, or until your lung fully expands without any leaks. You will also have compression boots on your lower legs. Pain medication is most effective 30 to 45 minutes after taking it. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Try dusting, washing dishes, preparing light meals, and other activities as you’re able. ©2006-2020 Healthwise, Incorporated. If it gets wet, change the bandage as soon as possible. Examples of things that can cause you to stay in the hospital longer include: Read our resource What You Can Do to Avoid Falling to learn about what you can do to stay safe and keep from falling at home and during your appointments at MSK. If you need a letter to go back to work, contact your doctor’s office. It depends on the type of work you do and the surgery you had. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines. Your chest tube will be removed when your lung is no longer leaking air and the drainage from your tube has decreased enough. Enter W573 in the search box to learn more about "Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): What to Expect at Home". When you increase your activity, monitor your body’s reaction. When you wake up after your surgery, you will be in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). You will learn how to safely recover from your surgery. Most people go home the same day that their chest tube is removed. Having a temperature of 101° F (38.3° C) or higher. This will help you to regain full arm and shoulder movement. Read more. Sign up for MyMSK to send your questions and receive answers to your most pressing concerns. This will help your lungs expand, which prevents pneumonia. Smoking can also cause problems with breathing and regular activities. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. The thoracoscope transmits images of the inside of your chest onto a video monitor, guiding the surgeon in performing the procedure.Mayo Clinic's … MSK is now offering COVID-19 vaccine to patients age 65 and over who live in New York State and are in active treatment with MSK on or after 1/1/19. 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