UNIPORTAL VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY IN MURCIA
Thoracic surgery has undergone extraordinary development in recent decades thanks to the advancement of minimally invasive techniques. Among them, uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (Uniportal VATS) represents one of the most important advances in the surgical treatment of multiple thoracic conditions.
The uniportal technique makes it possible to perform complex procedures through a single small incision, avoiding traditional large thoracotomies or multiportal VATS and significantly reducing the surgical impact on the patient.
LESS POSTOPERATIVE PAIN
One of the main benefits of Uniportal VATS is the reduction of postoperative pain. As it is performed through a single incision and minimizes aggression to the muscles, ribs, and intercostal nerves, surgical trauma is considerably reduced.
This translates into:
Reduced need for painkillers.
Greater patient comfort during the postoperative period.
Improved ability to breathe deeply and mobilize secretions.
Lower risk of respiratory complications.
The reduction in pain also facilitates early mobilization, which is a key factor for a faster and safer recovery.
SHORTER HOSPITAL STAY
Minimally invasive surgery allows for a more efficient postoperative recovery. Patients undergoing Uniportal VATS usually experience:
Less inflammation and reduced response to surgical stress.
Faster functional recovery.
Lower incidence of postoperative complications.
Earlier removal of chest drains.
As a result, hospital stay is significantly reduced compared with conventional open surgery, allowing patients to return to their family environment sooner and reducing the physical and emotional impact of hospitalization.
BETTER AESTHETIC OUTCOME
Uniportal VATS is usually performed through a single incision of approximately 3–4 cm, generally located on the lateral side of the chest.
This approach offers clear aesthetic advantages:
• A single small scar.
• Less deformity of the chest wall.
• Greater patient body satisfaction.
• Faster aesthetic recovery.
The cosmetic result is particularly important in young and active patients, for whom quality of life and body perception are a fundamental part of the recovery process.
EARLY RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE
Thanks to the combination of less pain, reduced surgical aggression, and accelerated functional recovery, patients can return to their daily activities sooner.
Uniportal surgery promotes:
• Faster recovery of mobility.
• Early resumption of usual physical activity.
• Earlier return to work.
• Greater autonomy during the postoperative period.
• Better overall quality of life.
In many cases, patients experience a surprisingly fast recovery and are able to resume a practically normal life in a much shorter period than with traditional surgical techniques.
In addition to its benefits for the patient, Uniportal VATS represents an advanced surgical technique that combines precision, high-definition vision, and minimal invasion.
Technological evolution and surgical experience have allowed the indications of this technique to be extended to increasingly complex procedures, while maintaining excellent oncological and functional outcomes.
Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery currently symbolizes a new surgical philosophy: offering the maximum therapeutic benefit with the least possible aggression, prioritizing not only treatment efficacy, but also the patient’s recovery and quality of life.