Video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

Objective|The objective of this study was to confirm the safety and feasibility of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for primary lung cancer and to compare prognoses with that of conventional procedures, and then to examine whether VATS would supplant a conventional thoracotomy for stage I lung cancer. Methods: From September 1995 through March 2002, 144 patients with primary lung cancer, included 118 patients with postoperative state I, underwent VATS lobectomy. We reviewed the previous cases whether they could be candidates for VATS lobectomy according to present indications. 166 cases were supposed to be candidates for VATS, and 121 cases of postoperative stage I disease were recruited into the “conventional thoracotomy” group. Results: There was no mortality or major complication except one case, and mean follow-up was 31.8 months in VATS. The number of removed lymph nodes was not significantly less than the number by conventional thoractomy (p=0.061). Five-year survival for patients with pathological stage IA adenocarcinoma was 92.4% (n=66) in VATS and 86.9% (n=50) in conventional thoracotomy, and a statistical significance could not be recognized (p=0.980). The length of hospital stay was significantly short in VATS lobectomy (p<0.0001). Conclusions: VATS lobectomy for stage I lung cancer can be performed safely with minimal morbidity, satisfying survival comparable with that of lobectomy through conventional thoractomy. VATS approach is a feasible surgical technique for patients with stage I lung cancer.     

完全电视胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌的近期疗效评价

目的 探讨完全电视胸腔镜（VATS）肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌的可行性、安全性及近期疗效。 方法回顾性分析2012年1月至2013年5月济宁市第一人民医院连续138例早期肺癌施行肺叶切除术患者的临床资料,其中完全电视胸腔镜肺叶切除术组 （VATS组） 71例,男39例,女32例 ;年龄 （57.9±10.6） 岁;传统开胸肺叶切除术组 （开胸组） 67例,男36例,女31例;年龄 （60.3±8.2） 岁。比较两组患者手术时间、术中出血量、清扫淋巴结组数及个数、带胸腔引流管时间、术后住院时间、术后第1 d、3 d、30 d疼痛视觉模拟评分 （vision analogue score,VAS）以及术后并发症发生情况。 结果 两组患者均顺利完成手术。VATS组患者术中出血量 ［（147±113） ml vs. （146±91） ml］、清扫淋巴结个数 ［（9.9±3.6） 枚 vs. （10.0±3.6） 枚］ 及组数 ［（3.1±1.3） 组 vs. （3.4±1.3） 组］、术后第1 d、第3 d VAS评分与开胸组差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;VATS组手术时间 ［（119±27） min vs. （135±29） min］、术后带胸腔引流管时间 ［（3.0±0.9） d vs. （3.8±1.2） d］、术后住院时间 ［（8.0±2.1） d vs. （10.2±5.4） d］、术后第30 d VAS评分 ［（2.6±0.7）分vs. （3.2±1.1） 分］ 及术后并发症发生率均短于或少于开胸组（P＜0.05）。VATS组术后随访59例,开胸组术后随访58例,随访时间2～18个月,两组均无死亡,其中脑转移1例,肝转移1例,骨转移2例。 结论对于早期肺癌的治疗,采用完全胸腔镜肺叶切除术安全可行,它具有创伤小、并发症少,术后恢复快、慢性胸痛轻微等优势。同时能够达到与常规开胸手术相同的规范化淋巴结清扫。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy vs. conventional lobectomy via open thoracotomy in patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung carcinoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate our personal experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and compare survival between this procedure and conventional lobectomy via open thoracotomy in patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung carcinoma. Between May 1997 and December 2004, 140 patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung carcinoma had either VATS lobectomy (VATS group, 84 patients) or standard lobectomy via open thoracotomy (open group, 56 patients) performed in our hospital. We compared overall survival, disease-free survival and recurrence between the two groups. The overall survival rate five years after surgery was 72% in the open group and 82% in the VATS group. There were no significant differences in the overall survival rate between the two groups. The disease-free survival rate five years after surgery was 68% in the open group and 80% in the VATS group. There were no significant differences in the disease-free survival rate between the two groups. Five patients in the open group developed distant recurrence, whereas one patient developed regional recurrence. In the VATS group six patients developed distant recurrence, whereas one patient developed regional recurrence. We consider VATS lobectomy to be one of the therapeutic options in patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung carcinoma.     

全胸腔镜肺叶切除与开胸肺叶切除治疗Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌效果比较

目的 与开胸肺叶切除对比,探讨全胸腔镜(VATS)下肺叶切除治疗早期肺癌的安全性和有效性.方法 回顾分析2002年1月至2008年1月接受肺叶切除的165例Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌病人,VATS组41例,开胸组124例.对比两组术前、术中、术后近期情况.结果 两组在年龄、性别分布、术前主要合并症、肺功能、手术切除的肺叶、术后病理类型、分期等方面差异无统计学意义(P<0.05).VATS组与开胸组相比,手术时间(195±57)min对(224±54)min(P<0.05);术中出血(227±153)ml对(349±158)ml(P<0.05);淋巴结清扫组数4.1±1.3对4.5±1.5(P<0.05);术后胸引流总量(1595±1038)ml对(1828±1074)ml(P<0.05);术后肺炎发生率4.9%对12.1%(P<0.05);1年无瘤生存率Ⅰ A期均为100%,ⅠB期分别为90.0%和91.3%(P>0.05);住院费用(4.6±1.1)万元对(3.5±1.1)万元.结论 两种术式在治疗早期肺癌具有相似的完全性和彻底性,VATS肺叶切除术较开胸肺叶切除术的手术时间略短,术中出血略少,术后肺炎发生率略低,但平均住院费用略高.     

Lobectomy: Video-Assisted thoracic surgery versus posterolateral thoracotomy

Background:Video-assisted lobectomy has been adopted by many thoracic surgeons, because it is a less invasive approach to small peripheral lung cancers. However, some authors disagree that video-assisted lobectomy is less invasive than traditional thoracotomy and lobectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages of video-assisted lobectomy over posterolateral thoracotomy and lobectomy in terms of pain-related morbidity. Methods: A total of 70 patients with clinical T1N0M0 non-small-cell lung carcinomas underwent lobectomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Of these 35 underwent posterolateral thoracotomy (between April 1994 and December 1995; open group), and 35 underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) (between January and December 1996; VATS group). Results: Although the operative time was significantly longer in the VATS group (p=0.04), the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less (p=0.03). No significant differences were found for the two groups with respect to the total number of mediastinal lymph nodes dissected or duration of chest tube drainage. Postoperative pain was less severe as determined by the number of doses of analgesics required between postoperative days 0 and 7 (p<0.0001), and the length of postoperative hospitalization was shorter in the VATS group (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Video-assisted lobectomy is associated with decreased postoperative pain and shortened length of postoperative hospitalization, when compared with posterolateral thoracotomy and lobectomy.     

肺部疾病中胸腔镜手术的应用研究

目的探讨胸腔镜手术在肺部疾病中的疗效。方法回顾性分析两年来电视胸腔镜手术治疗的15例患者的临床资料,并与同期的25例传统开胸手术作比较。结果经比较,VATS组手术时间、失血量、术后胸腔引流管放置时间和住院时间均明显短于传统开胸手术组,手术效果满意,无并发症发生。结论电视胸腔镜手术具有创伤小、出血少、手术时间短、康复快、风险小、疗效可靠及术后并发症少等优点,是值得临床推广、安全有效的治疗方法。     

Clinical evaluation of VATS lobectomy for lung cancer

Thoracoscopic lobectomy is now recognized as a possible less invasive surgical option for stage I primary non-small cell lung cancer. We have widely used thoracoscopic procedure for surgical diagnosis of lung nodules especially in lung peripheral region as well as resection of primary lung cancer. Results of 47 thoracoscopic lobectomy during last 5 years were compared with 24 standard lobectomy under postero-lateral thoracotomy. There were no significant differences in the duration of surgery, post-operative hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss and post-operative survival. All but three patients who were diagnosed as n 2 disease or tumor with extrapulmonary extension post-operatively are surviving at the time of survey. We conclude that thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and less invasive procedure compared to standard thoracotomy. We believe it can provide sufficient outcome for stage I non-small cell lung cancer.     

单操作孔胸腔镜手术治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床分析

目的探讨单操作孔胸腔镜下行肺叶切除术加系统性淋巴结清扫治疗非小细胞肺癌的可行性和临床应用价值。方法回顾分析2011年3月至2013年3月采用单操作孔胸腔镜行肺叶切除术并且系统性清扫淋巴结治疗的非小细胞肺癌患者42例。手术在腋中线第7或者第8肋间作约1．5cm切口作为观察孔,在腋前线第4或者第5肋间胸大肌外侧缘作4．0—5．0cm切口作为操作孔。结果所有患者均顺利在单操作孔胸腔镜下完成肺叶切除术加系统性淋巴结清扫,无增加第2个操作孔或者中转开胸手术者。行肺叶切除术加系统性淋巴结清扫手术时间90～200min,术中出血量50～400ml,清扫淋巴结数量9～16枚,术后胸腔引流时间5—8d,术后住院6～10d。所有患者均未出现手术并发症,术后恢复良好,顺利出院。结论单操作孔胸腔镜下肺叶切除术加系统性淋巴结清扫治疗非小细胞肺癌,在传统的三孔电视胸腔镜手术基础上进～步减少了手术创伤,具有一定的临床优势,只要病例选择合适,可以作为治疗非小细胞肺癌更微创化的手术方式。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for lung carcinoma

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been utilized worldwide for the treatment of various types of thoracic disease, in particular for lung carcinoma. The following criteria are accepted as the operative indications for VATS lobectomy: i) clinical T1N1M0: ii) tumor located in the peripheral zone; and iii) non-small cell carcinoma. Videoscopic surgery has the merit of being less invasive, resulting in a low level of postoperative chest pain, short incisional scar, and short duration of hospital stay. Right-side upper mediastinal lymph node dissection is easy under the thoracoscope, although compared with standard thoracotomy it is not always possible to perform complete level II dissection on the left, because of the difficult approach to lymph nodess No. 3 and No. 4 under the aortic arch via the thoracoscope. The postoperative 5-year survival rate after VATS lobectomy is superior to that after standard thoracotomy. It is expected that the indications for VATS will be expanded to include T2 or N1 disease as thorascopic instruments and techniques improve.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy (VATS), open thoracotomy, and the robot for lung cancer

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy provides a minimally invasive approach for the management of early-stage lung cancer. Questions about the safety of VATS lobectomy and its adequacy as a cancer operation compared with open thoracotomy have hindered its universal acceptance among thoracic surgeons. Evidence suggests that VATS lobectomy can be safely performed and is an adequate cancer operation for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, adequately powered well-balanced studies comparing VATS with open thoracotomy for lobectomy are lacking in the literature.     

Limited operation of lung cancer: the role of video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

Lobectomy with systemic nodal dissection is recognized as a standard operation for lung cancer. Partial resection and segmental resection are classified as limited resections for lung cancer to preserve pulmonary function. Minor complications occur more frequently with limited resection than with lobectomy. Partial resection of the lung and simple lobectomy can be performed as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Systemic hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection is not yet standardized using VATS. On the other hand, VATS preserves chest wall muscles. The difference between standard thoracotomy and VATS is a difference of approach to the thoracic cavity. It is most important for lung cancer surgery to be performed in the thoracic cavity with the minimum burden on patients.     

全胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗周围型肺癌的临床分析

目的探讨全胸腔镜肺叶切除术在治疗周围型肺癌患者中的应用。方法回顾性分析2009年7月至2011年12月安徽医科大学附属省立医院应用全胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗90例周围型肺癌患者的临床资料,其中男55例,女35例;年龄33～79(62.5±11.5)岁。观察术中淋巴结清扫组数、手术时间、术中出血量、术后胸腔引流时间、术后住院时间、并发症发生率和疼痛评分。结果围术期无死亡。手术时间(135.0±32.5)min,术中出血量(230.0±80.4)ml,术后胸腔引流时间(4.8±2.1)d,术后第3 d疼痛评分(5.3±1.2)分。共清扫淋巴结520组,1 568枚,5.8组/例、17.4枚/例;淋巴结有转移71组,阳性率13.7%(71/520)。术后发生声音嘶哑2例;乳糜胸3例,经相应的治疗均治愈。随访90例,随访时间1～24个月,随访期间因肿瘤转移死亡4例;其余生存患者生活质量良好。结论对周围型肺癌患者采用全胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗,具有创伤小、恢复快和疼痛轻等优点。手术安全性、根治性与开胸手术相似,可作为治疗周围型肺癌患者的手术方式。     

Pulmonary function, postoperative pain, and serum cytokine level after lobectomy: a comparison of VATS and conventional procedure

BACKGROUND: Although lobectomy by the video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) approach is assumed to be less invasive than lobectomy by the standard posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) approach, it has not been scientifically proven. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive, nonrandomized patients, underwent either a VATS approach (n = 13) or a posterolateral thoracotomy approach (n = 9) to perform pulmonary lobectomy for peripheral lung cancers in clinical stage I. Pain and serum cytokines were measured until postoperative day (POD) 14. Pulmonary function tests were performed on POD 7 and POD 14. RESULTS: Postoperative pain was significantly less in the VATS group on PODs 0, 1, 7, and 14. Recovery of pulmonary function was statistically better in the VATS group. Negative correlations between the recovery rates of pulmonary function and postoperative pain were observed on POD 7. The serum interleukin-6 level in the PLT group was significantly elevated on POD 0 compared with the VATS group (posterolateral thoracotomy: 21.6+/-24.3 pg/mL; VATS: 4.1+/-7.9 pg/mL, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Lobectomy by the VATS approach generates less pain and cytokine production, and preserves better pulmonary function in the early postoperative phase.     

全腔镜肺叶切除与开胸肺叶切除治疗早期肺癌的初步体会

【摘要】〓目的〓通过两种术式的比较,评价完全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗早期肺癌临床疗效。方法〓回顾分析性分析2012年9月至2013年05月我科行全腔镜下肺叶切除35例术前分期为pT1N0-1M0肺癌患者的资料(VATS组),全组病例均采用全腔镜四孔法完成手术。选取同期行常规开胸手术35例术前分期pT1N0-1M0肺癌患者的临床资料作为对照。比较两组之间手术时间,术中出血量,术后拔管时间,淋巴结清扫数目,术后疼痛,术后并发症发生率,术后住院时间等指标。结果〓无围手术期死亡,VATS组1例患者中转开胸。VATS组患者的术中出血量、引流时间、术后疼痛时间以及住院时间均明显低于常规开胸组患者(P<0.05);VATS组的手术时间、淋巴结清扫数与对照组的差异无统计学意义。结论〓全腔镜肺叶切除治疗早期肺癌安全可行,临床疗效满意。     

临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌全胸腔镜与开胸纵隔淋巴结清扫的对比研究

目的评价临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌患者全胸腔镜纵隔淋巴结清扫的效果。方法回顾性研究2003年1月～2009年7月间连续282例临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌的资料,152例接受全胸腔镜手术,另130例为开胸手术,对比2组清扫纵隔淋巴结组数、枚数、各区域淋巴结枚数和淋巴结清扫相关并发症。结果胸腔镜组与开胸组纵隔淋巴结清扫组数[中位数4组（3～6组）vs4组（3～7组）,Z=0.603,P=0.544）和枚数[（13.7±6.1）vs（14.6±7.2）,t=-1.136,P=0.257）差异无显著性,各区域（右侧上纵隔、中下纵隔,左侧主动脉弓周围、中下纵隔）两组间淋巴结清扫枚数差异亦无显著性（P〉0.05）。淋巴结清扫相关并发症（胸腔镜组乳糜胸2例,开胸组乳糜胸2例、喉返神经损伤1例,χ2=0.031,P=0.860）和胸腔引流时间[（8.1±3.9）dvs（8.6±4.1）d,t=-1.048,P=0.296]也未到达统计学差异。结论全胸腔镜纵隔淋巴结清扫可以达到等同传统开胸手术的效果,且不增加并发症。     

Limited thoracotomy as surgical therapy for lung cancer: lobectomy and lymph node dissection by means of 12 cm skin incision

In the domain of respiratory surgery minimally invasive approaches are currently being used and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is one of these methods. However VATS has some problems in its use for malignant lung diseases for example, with VATS adequate lymph node dissection and continuation of lobectomy in cases with severe adhesion are both difficult. In consideration of these points, limited thoracotomy has been practiced for treatment of lung cancer in our hospital. This study made comparisons between this new method (group A) and the conventional standard thoracotomy (group B). For the limited thoracotomy group (A) the skin incision and amount of bleeding were smaller than for the standard thoracotomy group (B) and the operation time was shorten. All limited thoracotomy group patients could lift up and move the hand of the affected side without pain immediately after the operation. The limited thoracotomy is an excellent approach as a curative operation for lung cancer, for preservation of post-operative pulmonary function, for movement capacity of the hand of the affected side and from the cosmetic viewpoint.     

Surgical Outcome of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery vs. Thoracotomy for Primary Lung Cancer >5 cm in Diameter

Objectives: The indications for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for advanced-stage lung cancer are expanding, but the criteria vary among institutions. This study compared the minimal invasiveness and oncologic validity of VATS lobectomy and thoracotomy lobectomy for the treatment of large-diameter primary lung cancer.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical features and surgical outcomes of 68 patients who underwent anatomical pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer of >5-cm diameter from July 2006 to March 2013. The patients were divided into a VATS group (Group V, n = 35) and a thoracotomy group (Group T, n = 33).Results: Group V exhibited less intraoperative bleeding (p = 0.012) and had a shorter length of postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.024). The 1- and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.3% and 39.3% in Group V and 84.8% and 56.9% in Group T, respectively (p = 0.48). Multivariate analysis showed that limited lymph node dissection contributed to local recurrence. The extraction bag lavage cytology in Group V revealed that the positivity rate was 35.7%.Conclusions: VATS for primary lung cancer of >5-cm diameter is similar to thoracotomy in terms of surgical outcomes. Large tumors must be carefully maneuvered during VATS to prevent cancer cell spillage.     

Less invasive surgery for the small size peripheral lung cancer: an indication and a review of VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomy

According to increment of detection of the "small" size peripheral lung cancer measuring less than 20 mm in the greatest dimension, the "less" invasive VATS lobectomy has became widespread among the general thoracic surgeon. To decide on the indication of VATS lobectomy, the frequency of nodal metastasis and recurrence were examined in relation to size of the tumor. The diagnostic accuracy of nodal status in clinical and pathological examinations was 88% in the group with tumors less than 20 mm, 79% in the 21 to 30 mm group and 63% in the c-T2 group, respectively. Also, recurrencies were experienced more frequently in c-T2 (44%) than in c-T1 (19%). In our department, the VATS lobectomy was introduced under the condition as follows; the clinical stage should be limited to T1N0M0. Intraoperative histological examination of the locoregional lymph nodes is required to avoid the risk of local recurrence. In these limited conditions, the survival rate of VATS lobectomy is slightly superior to that of the standard thoracotomy in a same clinical stage. In the future, the application of this procedure should be investigated in older patients, and in more advanced cases.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy reduces the morbidity after surgery for stage I non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: We conducted this study to evaluate the surgical invasiveness and the safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for stage I lung cancer. Methods: Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomies were performed on 43 patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer. We compared the surgical invasiveness parameters with 42 patients who underwent lobectomy by conventional thoracotomy. Results: Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less than that in the conventional thoracotomy group (151±149 vs. 362±321 g, p<0.01). Chest tube duration (3.0±2.1 vs. 3.9±1.9 days) was significantly shorter than those in the conventional thoracotomy group (p<0.05). The visual analog scale which was evaluated as postoperative pain level on postoperative day 7, maximum white blood count and C-reactive protein level were significantly lower than those in the conventional thoracotomy group (p<0.05). The morbidity rate was significantly lower than that in the conventional thoracotomy group (25.6% vs. 47.6%, p<0.05). Sputum retention and arrhythmia were significantly less frequent than in the conventional thoracotomy group (p<0.05). We experienced no operative deaths in both groups. Conclusion: We conclude that video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients is a less invasive and safer procedure with a lower morbidity rate compared with lobectomy by thoracotomy.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer: current indications

Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been widely applied in lung cancer surgery in Japan, although there is no consensus on the definition of VATS and its standard techniques. VATS lobectomy may result in long-term survival rates as high as after standard thoracotomy and is becoming an optional treatment for stage IA lung cancer. It is still not a standard treatment because of the problems of safety and oncologic radicality. However, as long as the safety and radicality are ensured by the tumor type, patient risk factors, and the expertise of the surgeon, less-invasive techniques like VATS should be performed.