Thoracic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery

CMC is home to the most experienced robotic surgery program in southern New Hampshire. Our surgical team has nearly 20 years of experience using the da Vinci system and is now using this technology for thoracic surgery.

Minimally invasive, robotic assisted thoracic surgery provides extreme precision in removing suspicious masses or tumors on the lung. The incision is small, with less disturbance to the rest of the chest cavity compared to traditional thoracic surgery. Benefits of this procedure includes:

• Shorter hospital stay
• Fewer potential complications
• Less pain during recovery

We also use long-acting local anesthetics and a process called cryoanalgesia – freezing of the nerve endings at the surgical site – to reduce post-operative pain without the need for narcotics.
 

Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has also been used at CMC over the last 20 years to provide less invasive surgery, allowing for quicker recovery and less pain. VATS involves a small camera being inserted into the chest cavity through a small incision, with the surgical instruments entering through a second incision. VATS is a far less invasive procedure than open thoracic surgery with shorter healing time and less discomfort.

Cryoanalgesia is also used in combination with regional anesthesia, allowing for an early discharge from the hospital without the need for prescription narcotics.

Coordinated Care

The nurse navigator is an important component of the team. The nurse navigator provides guidance to the patient during the early postoperative period and over the long term. This facilitates the coordination of care for the patient undergoing treatment for lung cancer and other malignancies of the chest.