Video-assisted thoracoscopic mini-invasive lobectomy: A clinical analysis of 35 cases / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic mini-invasive lobectomy in the treatment of pulmonary benign lesions or malignancies. Methods A retrospectively analysis on clinical data of 35 cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic mini-invasive lobectomy, which were performed from February 2002 to June 2006, was made. The pathological diagnosis included 31 cases of peripheral lung cancer (T_1N_0-1M_0), 3 cases of bronchiectasis, and 1 case of atelectasis combined with pulmonary abscess. The procedures included 30 cases of anatomical lobectomy and 5 cases of non-anatomical lobectomy. Results No conversion to open surgery was required. The operation time was 85~210 min (115?35 min) and the intraoperative blood loss was 150~450 ml (210?55 ml). Postoperatively, acute respiratory failure was encountered in 2 cases, and mechanical ventilation was given for 3 and 5 days, respectively. Acute myocardial infarction occurred in 1 case, which was cured by early-stage thrombolysis. No postoperative complications were seen in the remaining 32 cases. The closed chest drainage was maintained for 2~10 days (mean, 5.4 days). In 3 cases of pulmonary benign lesions, follow-up checkups for 41, 33, and 13 months, respectively, found no long-term complications. In 25 cases of lung cancer, follow-up observations were made for 3~53 months (mean, 15.2 months), including 3~12 month in 6 cases, 12~24 months in 9 cases, 24~36 months in 7 cases, and 36~53 months in 3 cases. There were 4 cases of death due to cancer recurrence or metastasis (16%), 2 cases of with-tumor survival (8%), and 19 cases of disease-free survival (76%), respectively. Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopic mini-invasive lobectomy is a feasible and safe procedure for peripheral lung cancer and benign lung diseases.