Ribcage Kinematics During Exercise Justifies Thoracoscopic Versus Postero-Lateral Thoracotomy Lobectomy Prompt Recovery

LoMauro and colleagues measured tidal volume and ribcage expansion during rest and exercise to evaluate functional recovery after minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) preserved these kinematic measures better than posterolateral thoracotomy, and the advantage was observed over two postoperative months. Patients compensated for restriction by shifting the expansion to the contralateral thorax after VATS and to the abdomen after thoracotomy.