Thoracoscopy is a general term for minimally invasive procedures of the chest cavity. Thoracoscopic procedures are usually performed in specialist centers as they often require an advanced level of knowledge and expertise in specialized anesthetic techniques. These might include techniques such as one-lung ventilation that might be required in order to create enough working space in the chest to perform certain surgical procedures.
Advantages of thoracoscopy include less post-operative pain because of avoidance of the need to spread the ribs or breastbone apart. Thoracoscopy also provides excellent magnification of the surgical site which is especially useful for procedures such as thoracic duct ligation in which very small ducts are visualized and ligated.
*American College of Veterinary Surgeons