BACKGROUNDBoth uniportal and triportal thoracoscopic lobectomy and sublobectomy are feasible for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of uniportal and triportal thoracoscopic lobectomy and sublobectomy for early-stage NSCLC.

METHODSA total of 405 patients with lung lesions underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy or sublobectomy through a uniportal or triportal procedure in approximately 7-month period (From November 2014 to May 2015). A propensity-matched analysis, incorporating preoperative variables, was used to compare the short-term outcomes of patients who received uniportal or triportal thoracoscopic lobectomy and sublobectomy.

RESULTSFifty-eight patients underwent uniportal and 347 patients underwent triportal pulmonary resection. The conversion rate for uniportal and triportal procedure was 3.4% (2/58) and 2.3% (8/347), respectively. The complication rate for uniportal and triportal procedure was 10.3% and 9.5%, respectively. There was no perioperative death in either group. Most patients had early-stage NSCLC in both groups (uniportal: 45/47, 96%; triportal: 313/343, 91%). Propensity score-matching analysis demonstrated no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, numbers of dissected lymph nodes, number of stations of lymph node dissected, duration of chest tube, and complication rate between uniportal and triportal group for early-stage NSCLC. However, the duration of postoperative hospitalization was longer in the uniportal group (6.83 ± 4.17 vs. 5.42 ± 1.86 d, P = 0.036) compared with the triportal group.

CONCLUSIONSUniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy and sublobectomy is safe and feasible, with comparable short-term outcomes with triportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. Uniportal lobectomy and sublobectomy lead to similar cure rate as triportal lobectomy and sublobectomy for early NSCLC.