Thorascopic surgery. Artwork of an overhead view of surgeons carrying out video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This is a form of keyhole (minimally invasive) endoscopic surgery, with fibre optic video cameras and surgical instruments inserted into the patient's chest (thorax) using endoscopes. The access points placed in the patient's chest (coloured dots) are called ports. This type of surgery is less traumatic than surgery where the chest and rib-cage are opened up.