Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy Decreased Patients Postoperative Hospital Stay

Objective:To evaluate the postoperative hospital stay in patients with mini-invasiveness of video-assissted thoracoscopic lobectomy.Methods:Thirty cases of VATS lobectomy performed in our hospital during May 2001 to May 2002 were reviewed.The patients were 6-66 years old,including 14 cases of benign lesions and 16 lung cancers Single lobectomy was performed in 28 cases,and double lobectomy in 2.Hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were dissected in cases of lung cancer.A 7-9cm incision was made for operation.The hilar components and fissures were dissected with endoscopic and conventional equipments,the pulmonary vessels were ligated with ligature-pushing machine,and the branchi was cut with endoscopic linear cutter and stapler.The incision was closed intracutaneously with 0/4 absorbable surgical suture at the end of operation.Results:There was no switch to conventional thoracotomy during operation and no severe complications occurred except one case having supraventricular tachycardia after operation.Pain was slight and could be relieved by oral analgesic.Recovery from operation was rapid and the patients could go outdoor on the third day after operation.Twenty-three cases were discharged from the hospital on the 7 th day after operation,6 cases on the 5 th day and 1 case on the 9 th day.The average postoperative hospital stay was 6 days and it was markedly shorter than the hospital stay of lobectomy from conventional thoracotomic approach,which was routinely 9 days in our hospital.Conclusion:VATS lobectomy was a kind of mini-invasive operation and patients had rapid recovery with slight pain and the hospital stay was markedly less compared with conventional thoracotomy.