Uniportal Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (UVATS)

The Uniportal Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (UVATS) is a minimally invasive surgery that involves accessing the lungs through a single 3cm incision. Through this single opening, the surgeon inserts a small camera and long, thin instruments to perform the surgery without needing to open the entire chest.

UVATS is a new surgical technique developed by Prof John Tam, in his pursuit to reduce post-operative pain and surgical risks for lung surgery patients. 

Watch how UVATS is performed here.

UVATS is done to:

• Diagnose or treat lung problems
• Treat collapsed lung (pneumothorax), lung infections, or fluid around the lungs
• Manage conditions like hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) or remove affected lymph nodes when needed

The goal is to remove disease, relieve symptoms, and help patients recover faster than with traditional open-chest surgery.

UVATS is designed to cause less pain because:

• It uses only a single 3cm incision, unlike older methods that require multiple incisions or rib spreading.
• Minimally invasive techniques generally lead to faster recovery and less discomfort.

Patients still experience some post‑surgery pain, but it is usually significantly less than after open‑chest surgery.

With all surgeries, UVATS carries some risks. Possible complications include:

• Infection or bleeding
• Pneumonia after surgery
• Short-term or permanent nerve injury
• Damage to nearby organs in the chest
• Side effects from anaesthesia

Overall, UVATS tends to have fewer complications compared to traditional open surgery because it is less invasive.