ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the reliability of video-assisted mini-thoracectomy(VAMT) for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary peripheral nodules.Methods A total of 55 patients with pulmonary peripheral nodules(1 case of multiple nodules and 54 cases of solitary nodule) underwent VAMT.The surgery included wedge resection in 23 patients and lobectomy with lymph node dissection in 32 patients(The lobectomy was performed by using conventional combined with thoracoscopic instruments.A self-made lymph node clamp was applied for lymph node dissection).Results The operation was successfully accomplished under thoracoscopy in all the 55 patients.The operation time was 35~180 min(mean,109 min) and the intraoperative blood loss was 50~400 ml(mean,122 ml).No blood transfusion was required.Postoperative complications included air leakage in 1 patient(discharge on the 32 postoperative day) and delayed wound healing in 1 patient(discharge on the 19 postoperative day).The length of postoperative hospital stay of the other 53 patients was 4~11 days(mean,8.3 days).Final pathological diagnosis showed 15 cases of benign lesions,38 cases of primary lung carcinoma,1 case of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia,and 1 case of metastatic lung cancer.The benign lesions were cured by wedge resection.Anatomic lobectomy with lymph node dissection was performed in 32 patients with primary lung cancer.Of other 6 patients with terminal lung cancer,4 patients were conservatively treated because of an extensive dissemination and 2 patients received a palliative wedge resection because of poor pulmonary functions.Conclusions Video-assisted mini-thoracectomy is helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary peripheral nodules.Its long-term effects for clinical early-stage lung cancer need further follow-up investigations.