Dr. Belal Bin Asaf is a Thoracic (Chest) Surgeon who specialises in the treatment of surgical diseases of the chest involving the lungs, mediastinum, Trachea (Windpipe), esophagus (food pipe) and diaphragm. He is recognised nation-wide as an expert and a leader in the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery like Video assisted Surgery (VATS / Key-Hole surgery) and robotic thoracic surgery. He specializes in and has special interest in minimally invasive surgery (VATS) for lung cancer and esophageal cancer surgery. 

Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, is the state of art technology that allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with extreme control and precision. Major Chest surgery procedures can be done with small incisions leading to early recovery with lesser pain. Robotic Surgery is an advanced form of minimally invasive (key hole) surgery for various chest diseases which involves the use of the state of art Surgical Robot to perform surgery inside the chest using 3-5 small (1-1.5 cm) cuts instead of conventional open surgery.

The patient is given general anaesthesia. And after preparations the surgeon makes 3-5 small 1-1.5 cms cuts on the chest through which he introduces specialised robotic ports (metallic Hollow tube). The patient cart is then attached to these ports through which specialised instruments are introduced. The lead surgeon then sits on the surgeon console and uses the master controllers to control the robotic instruments which work like miniature human hands and carry out the procedure with incredible preciseness.

Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)- a method that allows many surgical conditions of Lung and other organs in chest to be performed through small (Key-hole) incisions that reduces trauma of surgery and aids in faster recovery. For best surgical treatment of diseases of the lung, Mediastinum and esophagus including Lung Cancer, Empyema, Myasthenia Gravis & Thymoma. 

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a type of surgery for diagnosing and treating a variety of conditions involving the chest (thorax). It is a minimally invasive surgery where instead of conventional 15-20 cm cut on the chest, 3 smaller cuts each around 1-4 cm are used to perform the complete surgery. The surgery is done using a special camera (called a thoracoscope) and other long slender tools through these cuts. The complete surgery performed as would be done in conventional open surgery but without the need of large incisions and any rib spreading.

List of Procedures done by VATS

• VATS Drainage of infected Pleural Effusion (Early Stage Empyema)
• VATS Decortication for Empyema Thoracic (Late Stage Empyema)
• VATS Lobectomy (For Lung Cancer,Bronchiectasis,Aspergilloma,Lung Cysts etc)
• VATS Segmentectomy
• VATS resection of lung nodules (Metastasectomy, Solitary Pulmonary Nodule )
• VATS Pleurodesis (for Recurrent Pleural Effusion / Pneumothorax )
• VATS for Pneumothorax (Primary or Secondary)
• VATS Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis and / or Thymoma
• VATS resection of Posterior Mediastinal Tumours
• VATS Resection of Cysts of lung / Mediastinum (Hydatid cysts, Bronchogenic Cysts, Esophageal Duplication Cysts
• VATS lung Biopsy for Interstitial Lung Disease
• VATS enucleation of Esophageal Leiomyoma
• VATS Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Procedures done using the Robotic

• Robotic Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis.
• Robotic Thymectomy for Thymoma.
• Robotic Lobectomy for Lung cancer/other diseases.
• Robotic Excision of Anterior Mediastinal Mass (Dermoid cyst)
• Robotic Excision of Posterior Mediastinal Mass (Posterior Mediastinal Tumour / Bronchogenic cyst )
• Robotic Repair of Morgagni Hernia
• Robotic Esophagectomy for Cancer/Other Diseases.