Videothoracoscopic lobectomy: first year of experience in a single center

Methods From April 2012 to date, we performed 42 completely thoracoscopic lobectomies (non rib-spreading) with anterior approach to the pulmonary hilum. Clinical stages I were included and T3 or T4 tumors, central tumors, cN1-N2, previous ipsilateral thoracotomy were excluded. Whenever possible, we have obtained a preoperative diagnosis with CT-guided needle biopsy (n = 35, 83%); otherwise lobectomy was preceded by atypical resection and extemporaneous examination. A preoperative mediastinoscopy was performed following the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2013 (n = 18, 43%), in the same operative time with extemporaneous examination of the lymph nodes. Lung resection was always associated with a lymphadenectomy of at least 4 ilo-mediastinal stations.