Preface

Although the first thoracoscopic lung resection was performed in 1991, the development and expansion of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been greater in the last ten years. Internet and specialized web pages have been very important in this expansion for they have given access to a great number of videos showing surgical techniques. The countless advantages which VATS provides over open surgery makes it a technique that every thoracic surgery department must learn and master. Most of the surgeons perform the VATS approach to lobectomy via 3 to 4 incisions, but the surgery can be performed using only one incision with similar outcomes. Uniportal VATS approach for lobectomy is an emergent minimally invasive technique developed by the thoracic team at Coru？a University Hospital in 2010. Nowadays, more complex resections, such as post chemo-radiotherapy resections, lobectomies with chest wall resection, bronchial sleeves or vascular reconstructions are being performed through a single small incision and published. The experience acquired in the last years, as well as the development of thoracoscopic equipment (especially the introduction of the high definition imaging) and the improvements of the surgical instruments have contributed to this