OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postsurgery effects of completed video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and the indication for non-small cell lung cancer cases (NSCLC). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 186 patients received completed VATS technique surgery for lobectomy from October 2007 to July 2010. RESULTS: All surgeries (186 cases) were performed successfully, and there was no death and severe postsurgery complications. Among the 186 patients, 1.6%(3/186) were switched to open thoracic operation. Up to now, all patients was alive, and the longest time for return was 31 months. Compared with regular lobectomy, bleeding, time for postoperative drainage and hospital stay were all decreased in completed VAST (P<0.05). In NSCLC cases, the average number of dissected lymph node was 14.5(4-22). CONCLUSION VATS lobectomy is safe and feasible. It is particularly useful for early stage NSCLC (esp.I-IIb) with proper indication.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; surgery