RESUMO
AIM: The outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with comorbidities were examined to determine the technical feasibility and safety of this procedure. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2007, 111 consecutive patients with suspected stage I lung cancer, who individually had one or more comorbidities cited in the modified Kaplan-Feinstein Index, were scheduled for a video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. The demographic, perioperative, and outcome variables were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred of 111 patients had non-small cell lung cancer. Ninety-nine patients underwent successful video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies, while there was one conversion because of a hemorrhage from the pulmonary artery in the early stage. Including this one conversion, no patients required a blood transfusion during surgery or postoperatively. There were no intraoperative or in-hospital deaths. No complications occurred in 78 (78.8%) of 99 patients. Only one patient (1.0%) with a Kaplan-Feinstein Index Score of severe grade contracted pneumonia indicating grade 3 (severe), whereas the remaining 20 patients had grade 1 (mild) or 2 (moderate) complications. At a median follow-up of 40 months, the overall 3-year survival rates for postoperative stage IA (N.=52); IB (N.=26); and II or more (N.=21) were 100%; 78%; and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is therefore considered to be a feasible and safe procedure for clinical stage I NSCLC even in patients with comorbidities.