ABSTRACT
Objective:To discuss the safety and feasibility for the use of 3D uniportal VATS sleeve resection.Methods:Totally 32 patients with central lung cancer received 3D uniportal VATS sleeve resection(group A) from June 2017 to May 2020 at Shanghai Chest Hospital. Meanwhile, 63 patients received conventional VATS sleeve resection(group B). The clinicopathological and perioperative outcome data were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results:The baseline clinicopathological characteristics between these two groups were statistically similar. Compared with group B, the mean operative time[(174.19±73.69)min vs.(212.46±50.02)min, P=0.004] and blood loss[(73.13±42.70)ml vs.(130.48±133.72)ml, P=0.020] of group A were decreased, harvested lymph node stations was increased(7.63±1.59 vs. 6.76±1.70, P=0.018). Lymph nodes dissected showed no statistical difference(1.31±1.58 vs 1.21±1.96, P=0.803). There was no intraoperative death in both groups. Inspiringly, group A possessed lower rate of conversion to thoracotomy(0 vs. 36.5%, P=0.000), shorter chest drainage durations[(4.88±1.15)days vs.(6.81±3.8)days, P=0.007]. Although there were no deaths during hospitalization in both groups, the incidence of postoperative complications in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(25.0% vs. 47.6%, P=0.046). It also presented more complicated operations including pulmonary artery plasty(25.0% vs. 6.3%, P=0.024) and carina plasty(12.5% vs. 1.6%, P=0.005) against group B. Conclusion:3D uniportal VATS was a safe and feasible technique for the surgical treatment of central lung cancer when conducting a thoracoscopic sleeve resection.