OBJECTIVETo review the technology of completely thoracoscopic lobectomy procedures.

METHODSFrom September 2006 to July 2007, 40 patients (23 male and 17 female) underwent completely thoracoscopic lobectomy. The median age was 59.5-years-old, with a range from 24 to 79-years-old. The lobectomy was completed through 3 incision in the 5th, 8th and 7th intercostal space. The procedures were similar with conventional open lobectomy.

RESULTSAll procedure were carried out safely, including lung cancer (n = 34), lymphoma(n = 1), pulmonary cyst (n = 1), middle lobe syndrome (n = 1) , bronchiectasis (n = 2) and renal carcinoma metastasis to lung (n = 1). There were no operative mortality or serious complications. There was one patient opposed to open thoracotomy because of the mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis. The average surgical duration was 206 min (range from 60 to 300 min). The average blood loss was 221 ml (range from 100 to 400 ml) with no blood transfusion required. The average length of stay was 8.9 d. No recurrence and metastasis was observed in a follow-up range from 1 to 10 months except one patient with adenocarcinoma occurred metastasis of tumor 3 months postoperation.

CONCLUSIONThe completely thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure compared with conventional open lobectomy for selected patients.