Explore the value of video-assisted-thoracoscopic lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer

Objective To compare video-assisted-thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy with routine open lobectomy for their difference in the radical treatment outcomes, safety and post-operative rehabilitation, so as to explore the value of VATS lobectomy for early stage lung cancer. Methods Totally 80 patients with early stage lung cancer who underwent VATS lobectomy in Shanghai Chest Hospital during Jan 2007 and Dec 2008 were taken as treatment cohort, and 62 patients with early stage lung cancer who underwent routine open lobectomy at the same time period were taken as control cohort. All patients were identified as stage I before operation. χ2-test and bilateral t-test were used to compare the difference between two cohorts in lymph node clearance rate, duration of operation, intraoperative bleeding, post-operative intubation drainage days, hospital stays, post-operative complications, and pain index at day 5 after operation. Results There were no significant differences in lymph node clearance rate, duration of operation, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stays and post-operative complications between the two groups (all P0.05). However, VATS lobectomy was found to be superior to open lobectomy in post-operative intubation drainage days and pain index at day 5 after operation ([3.71±0.56] d vs. [4.82±0.73] d, 5.31±1.21 vs. 7.01±1.65, both P0.05). Conclusion VATS lobectomy can achieve a similar result for radical treatment outcome and a safety not inferior to ruotine open lobectomy in patients with early-stage lung cance. VATS lobectomy is superior to open lobectomy in post-operative rehabilitation and it should be recommended for patients with early-stage lung cancer.