ABSTRACT
Objective To study the reliability and feasibility of video-assisted thorascopic lymphadenectomy for complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods From May 2007 to October 2008,31 patients with NSCLC underwent video-assisted thorascopic radical lobectomy combined with systemic lymphadenectomy in our hospital.The patients were divided into video-assisted thorascopic surgery(VATS) group(n=14) and video-assisted mini-thoracotomy(VAMT) group(n=17).The numbers of removed and metastatic lymph nodes were counted.The results and the follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results No patient dead or showed serious perioperative complications in both the groups.No significant differences were found between the VATS and VAMT groups in the operation time [(193?92) min vs(188?101) min,t=0.143,P=0.887],blood loss [(592?123) ml vs(648?120) ml,t=-1.297,P=0.211],number of removed lymph nodes [(14.6?7.5) vs(15.2?4.5),t=0.262,P=0.795],or 1-year rate of recurrence or metastasis [21.4%(3/14) vs 13.3%(2/15),P=0.651].Conclusion For patients with NSCLC,no significant difference exists between the outcomes of video-assisted thorascopic surgery and video-assisted mini-thoracotomy.