ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the feasibility of lobectomy by completely Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (cVATS) in the management of bronchiectasis.Methods Between June 2001 and October 2010,a total of 60 major lobectomies were performed in our single center on 32 female and 28 male patients of bronchiectasis,with a mean age of 43.4( range 17 to 69)years.All lobectomies were carried out anatomically and divided into thoracotomy group and cVATS group.Pulmonary vessels and bronchus were dissected by endo-cutters.Conversion to a thoracotomy took place if severe adhesion or bleeding was encountered.Results The operations included 5 lobectomies of right upper lobe,3 of middle lobe,6 of right lowerlobe,3 of left upper lobe,26 of left lower lobe,10 of left lower lobe plus lingular segment,4 of left pneumonectomy,1 of bi-lobectomy,1 of right middle lobe plus wedge resection of lower lobe and 1 of left lower lobe plus right middle lobe.There were 25 patients in the thoracotomy group and 35 patients in the cVATS group,in which 2 operations (5.7％) converted due to severe adhesion,poor differentiation of the fissure and/or the proliferation of tortuous vessels at hilus In thoracotomy and cVATS groups,the operative time were ( 207.6 ± 88.5 ) vs.( 168.7 ± 55.9 ) min ( P =0.041 ),the blood loss were ( 522.0 ±644.2) vs.(210.1 ± 213.1 ) ml ( P =0.009),the mean chest tube duration were ( 5.4 ± 4.4) vs.(6.3 ± 3.4 ) days ( P ＞0.05 ) and the mean length of hospitalization were ( 10.2 ±4.7 ) vs.( 8.5 ± 3.5 ) days ( P ＞ 0.05 ).No mortality or severe complication occurred in both groups.The morbidity was 25.7％ (9/25)vs.17.1％ (6/35) in thoracotomy and cVATS group,with no significant difference statistically (P =0.133 ) . There were 52％ vs.62.9％ patients achieved symptomatic completely relief and significant improvement was obtained in 40.0％ vs.31.4％ patients in thoracotomy and cVATS group separately.Conclusion cVATS lobectomy is safe and effective in the management of bronchiectasis.