Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy versus open lobectomy for clinical stage I non small cell lung cancer: a case-control study

This study aimed to compare outcomes following video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS) versus open lobectomy for clinical stage I non small cell lung cancer at a China center. Eighty-one consecutive patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy from January 2007 to December 2013 were compared with 94 patients undergoing open surgery during the same time period. Patients were matched for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, location of tumor and clinical TNM stage. Endpoints were shortand long-term perioperative outcomes. The VATS approach was associated with longer operative time, less blood loss, similar surgical margin, and decreased duration of narcotic and epidural use, similar complications and decreased length of stay. There was no difference in the number of lymph nodes harvested, 5-year overall survival and 5-year disease-free survival between the VATS group and open group. VATS is safe and effective for clinical stage I non small cell lung cancer.