It is a type of thoracic surgery performed using a small video camera that is introduced into the patient’s chest via a scope. The surgeon is able to view the instruments that are being used along with the anatomy on which the surgeon is operating.
Similarly to laparoscopy, VATS has enjoyed widespread use for technically straightforward operations such as pulmonary decortication, pleurodesis, and lung or pleural biopsies.

Is VATS a big surgical procedure?

It falls within the category of minimally invasive surgery. This indicates that fewer cuts (incisions) are made than in conventional open surgery. The removal of a portion of the lung due to malignancy is a frequent justification for VATS.