Paediatric Thoracoscopy Treatment in Turkey
About Paediatric Thoracoscopy
Key Highlights
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Minimally invasive with smaller incisions and less scarring.Reduced post-operative pain and discomfort for the child.Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery compared to open surgery.Enhanced visualization for accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.Lower risk of infection and bleeding.Can often be both diagnostic and therapeutic in a single procedure./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of unexplained pleural effusion (fluid around the lung).
- Evaluation and biopsy of lung nodules, masses, or interstitial lung disease.
- Management of recurrent or persistent pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
- Drainage of empyema (infected fluid in the pleural space).
- Evaluation of mediastinal masses or lymph nodes.
- Treatment of certain congenital lung malformations.
- Pleurodesis (a procedure to prevent recurrent fluid or air accumulation).
How to prepare
- Comprehensive pre-operative evaluation including blood tests, chest X-ray, and possibly CT scan.
- Detailed discussion with the paediatric pulmonologist and anaesthesiologist about the procedure and anaesthesia.
- Fasting for a specified period (typically 6-8 hours for solids, 2 hours for clear liquids) before the procedure.
- Adjustment or temporary cessation of certain medications as advised by the doctor.
- Informing the medical team of any allergies, especially to anaesthesia or contrast dye.
- Psychological preparation of the child and family, often with support from child life specialists.
Risks & possible complications
- Reaction to general anaesthesia.
- Bleeding or infection at the incision sites.
- Persistent air leak from the lung (prolonged pneumothorax).
- Injury to surrounding structures like blood vessels, nerves, or the diaphragm.
- Subcutaneous emphysema (air trapped under the skin).
- In rare cases, conversion to an open thoracotomy may be necessary.
- Post-operative fever or pain.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in a post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) with close monitoring of vital signs.
- A chest tube may be left in place for 1-2 days to drain fluid/air and re-expand the lung.
- Pain management with appropriate paediatric medications.
- Encouragement of deep breathing exercises and early mobilization to prevent complications.
- Incision care instructions, including keeping the area clean and dry.
- Follow-up appointment with the pulmonologist to review pathology results and recovery progress.
- Temporary activity restrictions, avoiding strenuous play or sports for the recommended period.
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Typical hospital stay:
2-5 days
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Expected recovery time:
2-4 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering paediatric thoracoscopy in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in Turkey with pulmonology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform paediatric thoracoscopy. MediFyr helps you compare pulmonologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for paediatric thoracoscopy compare across other countries where we have data.
Emma Das is a 4-year-old girl...
Emma Das is a 4-year-old girl who loves dancing and animals. She has been a generally healthy child, but for the past 8 months, her parents noticed she tired easily during play and had a persistent, dry cough that worsened at night. After multiple rounds of antibiotics for suspected pneumonia with no improvement, a chest X-ray revealed a persistent shadow in her right lung. Her paediatrician referred her to a paediatric pulmonologist, Dr. Chen. Dr. Chen suspected a congenital lung lesion, like a congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), that wasn't resolving and was causing recurrent infections. He recommended a paediatric thoracoscopy to both diagnose the exact issue and remove the abnormal tissue. The minimally invasive procedure, using three tiny incisions and a camera, was successful. Surgeons found and removed a small, abnormal segment of her lung. Post-procedure, Emma spent one night in the hospital. Her recovery at home involved mild pain management for a few days, but within two weeks, she was back to dancing. Her cough vanished, and her energy levels returned to normal. Emotionally, her parents were fraught with anxiety, fearing major surgery for their young daughter. After learning about the minimally invasive approach and seeing Emma's rapid, cheerful recovery, their fear turned to profound relief and gratitude.