Complications of Video-Assisted Surgery in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Video-assisted surgery (VAS) has been widely used for the diagnosis, staging, and even treatment of cancer patients. This study used a literature search to describe the potential complications in cancer patients undergoing VAS. The databases were DEDALUS, LILACS, MEDLINE, and PORTAL DE PERIÓDICOS DA CAPES. The most frequent complications of VAS related to metastases at the site of trocar introduction. VAS has undeniably brought important progress in the diagnosis, staging, and palliative treatment of neoplasms, but its use as a curative method remains controversial, confirming the need for more research in order for the method to be used more safely, with less risk for patients.