The 1st Annual Live Workshop on Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery was conducted on 10th August 1998, at Hotel Residency Coimbatore. Dr. John Tharion came in from Canberra, Australia, to demonstrate a few procedures (VATS 98) for the workshop. It was inaugurated by Sri. G K Rajagopal. Dr. E Krishnan, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, gave a lecture on “Introduction of VATS” and Dr. John Tharion delivered a lecture on “Indication for Thoracoscopic Surgery.”