The word gerbil is a diminutive form of  jerboa , though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche. One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the clawed jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a type of surgery that enables doctors to view the inside of the chest cavity after making only very small incisions. The doctor can examine the outside surface of the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall through a camera attached to the scope.
What is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)? VATS is a surgical procedure used in the chest and lungs. It is a type of 'keyhole' surgery where only very small cuts (incisions) are made to the body. VATS uses a special instrument called a thoracoscope. VATS uses a special instrument called a thoracoscope.