A prospective trial of systematic nodal dissection for lung cancer by video-assisted thoracic surgery: can it be perfect?

BACKGROUND: There have been no reports evaluating the completeness of systematic nodal dissection with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). In order to elucidate the completeness of the dissection, we have conducted a prospective trial with patients having primary lung cancer. METHODS: Patients with clinical stage I lung cancer were the candidates for this study. Thoracotomy was performed with a small skin incision of 7 cm to 8 cm in length. Through these small wounds and two trocars, pulmonary resection was performed and then hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were dissected. After that, a standard thoracotomy was carried out by another surgeon to complete systematic nodal dissection. RESULTS: Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy with lymph node dissection was accomplished in 17 right lung cancer patients and 12 left lung cancer patients. On the right side, the average numbers of resected lymph nodes by VATS and remnant lymph nodes were 40.3 and 1.2, respectively. The average weights of dissected tissues by VATS and remnant tissues were 10.0 g and 0.2 g, respectively. On the left side, there were 37.1 and 1.2 lymph nodes and 8.3 g and 0.2 g of weight of dissected tissues. No nodal involvement was observed in the remnant lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The lymph node dissection with VATS was technically feasible and the remnant ("missed" by VATS) lymph nodes and tissues were 2% to 3%, which seems acceptable for clinical stage I lung cancer.     

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.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy for small peripheral lung cancer tumors: intermediate results

Background We investigated the feasibility and suitability of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy for curing selected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with this less invasive technique Methods We performed VATS segmentectomy for small (<20 nm) peripherally located tumors and pathologically confirmed lobar lymph node-negative disease by frozen-section examination during surgery. Of the 34 patients who underwent this limited resection, 22 were treated with complete hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection (intentional group), whereas 12 patients who were deemed to be high risk in their toleration for lobectomy underwent VATS segmentectomy with incomplete hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection (compromised group). The surgical and clinical parameters were evaluated and compared with those of segmentectomy under standard thoracotomy to evaluate the technical feasibility of VATS segmentectomy. Results We found that VATS segmentectomy could be performed safely with a nil mortality rate and acceptably low morbidity. The mean period of observation was relatively short at 656.7±572.1 and 783.4±535.8 days in the intentional and compromised groups, respectively. At the time of writing, all intentional patients remain alive and free of recurrence. There were two cases of non-cancer-related death in the compromised group. Clinical data indicated that VATS segmentectomy caused the same number or fewer surgical insults compared with segmen-tectomy under standard thoractomy Conclusions The present results are intermediate only; the rate of long-term survival and the advantages of the less invasive procedure still need further investigation. Nevertheless, we believe that VATS segmentectomy with complete lymph node dissection is a reasonable treatment option for selected patients with small peripheral NSCLC.     

Lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection by video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

Background: Between September 1992 and September 1996, we performed 88 VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomies and two VATS pneumonectomies. Methods: The indications for surgery were 68 cases of lung cancer, nine cases of bronchiectasis, six cases of tuberculosis, and seven cases of benign lesions. Of the 68 cases of lung cancer, 36 were treated by VATS lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection for clinical stage I lung cancer, making full use of recently developed devices for thoracoscopic surgery, such as roticulating endoscissors, miniretractors, endoclips, and harmonic scalpels. Results: Twenty-four lymph nodes were resected on average (range, 10 to 51) by VATS. This number was comparable to lymph nodes resected in open thoracotomy during the same period. Among the 36 patients who underwent extended lymph node dissection, 20 showed no lymph node metastasis postoperatively (stage I), while 16 had N1 or N2 cancer. All patients with stage I cancer have survived 4 to 36 months (median: 17 months) with no signs of recurrence. Conclusions: This survival of stage I lung cancer after VATS is comparable to that of open thoracotomy. We thus believe that VATS lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection can be an alternative to standard posterolateral thoracotomy for stage I lung cancer. Received: 10 May 1996/Accepted: 19 November 1996     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer

Since 1990s, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has become a standard procedure for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, VATS lobectomies are less common, and no randomized controlled trial of VATS versus conventional open lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer has been performed in Japan. Furthermore, VATS lobectomy procedures are not standardized in Japan, and may vary by institution or by practitioner, which complicates their evaluation. Although VATS procedures (such as pneumonectomy, bronchoplasty, and chest wall resection) have been reportedly performed for patients with advanced disease, whether VATS could be a standard modality for advanced lung cancer is unclear from an oncological perspective. Until recently, VATS lobectomies commonly used three or four ports to conduct systemic lymph node dissection; however, VATS lobectomies with reduced port have been recently reported. This article reviews current trends in VATS lobectomy procedures.     

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。     

Is sampling really effective in staging non-small cell lung cancer? A prospective study

Is sampling really effective in staging non-small cell lung cancer? The aim of the study was to assess if systematic nodal dissection is necessary in order to stage non-small cell lung cancer correctly or whether mediastinal lymph node sampling can be used and whether in selected cases it could replace systematic nodal dissection for the treatment of lung cancer. A prospective study was conducted in 94 patients affected by clinically resectable non-small cell lung cancer (stages I-IIIB) who were surgically treated by the same team of surgeons. During surgery mediastinal lymph node sampling was done first and then another surgeon completed the systematic nodal dissection and performed the lung resection. One hundred and ninety-three mediastinal nodal stations were investigated using the American Thoracic Society lymph node map to identify them. On analysing the 193 mediastinal nodal stations investigated, it emerged that in 181 cases (94%) mediastinal lymph node sampling and systematic nodal dissection yielded the same histopathological findings, whereas in 12 cases (6%) there was no agreement between the two techniques. The negative predictive value of mediastinal lymph node sampling was 92.8% (103/111). The results of the study show no statistical difference between mediastinal lymph node sampling and systematic nodal dissection in staging non-small cell lung cancer. However, it is possible that in a limited percentage of cases a nodal station could be understaged and thus the surgical resection could prove incomplete if mediastinal lymph node sampling alone is performed. Moreover, in those cases where mediastinal lymph node sampling detects N2 disease and systematic nodal dissection has not been completed, the intervention cannot be considered radical.     

单操作孔电视胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌的临床研究

目的探讨单操作孔电视胸腔镜(single utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery,single utility portVATS)肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌的临床效果。方法回顾性分析2009年9月至2011年10月解放军总医院胸外科采用单操作孔VATS肺叶切除术治疗162例早期肺癌患者的临床病例资料(单操作孔组),用同期胸腔镜辅助小切口(video-assisted mini-thoracotomy,VAMT)肺叶切除术221例早期肺癌患者做对照(小切口组),比较两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、淋巴结清扫数、术后下床时间、拔除胸腔引流管时间及术后并发症等。结果两组患者手术过程均顺利,无围手术期死亡。单操作孔组与小切口组患者术中出血量(162.8±75.6)ml vs.(231.4±62.8)ml、术后下床时间(2.2±0.3)d vs.(3.7±0.5)d、拔除胸腔引流管时间(3.5±0.2)d vs.(4.6±0.4)d,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);单操作孔组与小切口组患者的手术时间(133.7±22.0)min vs.(124.9±25.7)min、淋巴结清扫数(11.7±1.9)枚vs.(12.5±2.7)枚、并发症发生率7.4%vs.8.1%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论单操作孔VATS肺叶切除并淋巴结清扫治疗早期肺癌安全、可靠,较VAMT创伤更小、恢复更快。     

机器人与胸腔镜在早期肺癌肺段切除术中短期疗效的对比研究

目的:分析机器人与胸腔镜手术在早期肺癌肺段切除中的临床疗效.方法:回顾性分析2019年1月～2020年12月在甘肃省人民医院接受达芬奇机器人和胸腔镜行肺段切除手术的106例早期肺癌患者的临床资料.其中接受RATS肺段切除术49例(男19例,女30例),年龄(59.13±9.38)岁;接受VATS 57例(男21例,女36例),年龄(60.36±10.06)岁,比较两组的临床疗效.结果:两组患者基线资料差异无统计学意义.RATS组与VATS组相比,手术时间(126.42min Vs 110.23min,P=0.007);术中失血量(40.46ml Vs 62.23ml,P=0.016);淋巴结清扫站数总数(6.32 Vs 5.21,P<0.001);淋巴结清扫总数(13.29 Vs 10.81,P=0.023);术后引流时间(4.29d Vs 5.66d,P=0.005);总引流量(772.53ml Vs 995.34ml,P=0.011);术后第1d疼痛评分(1.67 Vs 2.59,P=0.031)、第2d(2.74 Vs 3.71,P=0.025)、第3d(1.02 Vs 1.92,P=0.006);术后住院时间(4.45d Vs 6.39d,P=0.008);住院费用(90463.37元Vs 69872.21元,P<0.001),差异有统计学意义.而中转开胸手术、术后咳嗽、术后并发症、术后30d再入院率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:机器人手术系统在早期肺癌肺段切除术中,术中出血量少,住院时间短,淋巴结清扫优势大,术后疼痛感轻,操作安全有效且创伤小,可作为早期肺癌手术治疗的有效方法.     

全胸腔镜手术在肺部局灶性磨玻璃影结节诊疗中的应用

目的探讨全胸腔镜手术在局灶性磨玻璃影(focal ground-glass opacity,fGGO)诊断与治疗中的价值。方法2007年5月～2011年5月对46例术前未确诊的fGGO行全胸腔镜手术。病变位于外周,先完成VATS下的楔形切除,在术中冰冻的基础上行解剖性肺叶切除及系统性淋巴结清扫。若病变靠近肺门,不易行楔形切除,则直接行肺叶切除,根据术中冰冻结果是否行淋巴结清扫。结果 46例均顺利完成手术,手术时间98～117 min,平均107.5 min;术后住院时间3～5 d;切口总长度5～6 cm,术后疼痛轻;术后自控镇痛1～2.5 d(平均1.5 d)。术后病理良性8例:结核球6例,真菌病2例。恶性肿瘤38例:其中3例为PET/CT诊为良性;支气管肺泡癌14例,腺癌11例,含有支气管肺泡癌成分的腺癌11例,大细胞肺癌2例。fGGO恶性率为82.6%(38/46),其中支气管肺泡癌比例最高,为36.8%(14/38)。术后并发症3例(6.5%,3/46):2例肺不张,经对症治疗治愈;1例胸腔持续漏气11 d,自愈。术中确诊的38例行淋巴结清扫,共切除淋巴结394枚(每例9～15枚,平均12枚/例),淋巴结转移7枚,全部为N1淋巴结。结论全胸腔镜手术治疗fGGO安全、有效。     

基于倾向性评分匹配法的机器人与胸腔镜辅助胸外科手术治疗肺癌的近期效果比较

目的在倾向性评分匹配配对良好的情况下,比较机器人与胸腔镜在肺癌手术治疗中的围手术期安全性与短期疗效。 方法回顾性分析2020年8月至2020年10月期间,山东大学齐鲁医院胸外科田辉教授肺外科团队因原发性肺癌行肺叶或亚肺叶切除+肺门纵隔淋巴结清扫或采样术的286例患者的临床资料。其中,130例行达芬奇机器人辅助胸外科（RATS）肺切除术,为RATS组;156例行电视胸腔镜辅助胸外科（VATS）肺切除术,为VATS组。采用倾向性评分匹配方法进行混杂因素校正,比较匹配后两组病例的围手术期结果。 结果倾向性评分匹配分析后,每组88例配对成功。对两组病例的围手术期临床资料行统计学分析,发现RATS组手术时间略长于VATS组,但差异无统计学意义(P＝0.625)。RATS组术中出血量较VATS组更少（P<0.001）。RATS组淋巴结清扫站数（P<0.001）及清扫个数（P＝0.031）均高于VATS组;RATS组住院费用较VATS组高,差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。术后第1~3天疼痛数字评分（NRS评分）差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）,RATS组术后第1~3天NRS评分更高。两组淋巴结升期率、术后第1~3天引流量、术后全部拔管时间、术后住院天数、术后并发症差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论在可切除肺癌手术治疗上,RATS与VATS的围手术期安全性及短期疗效相似。此外,RATS在术中出血量、淋巴结清扫彻底性上存在优势,缺点是增加了住院总费用,潜在增加了术后疼痛。     

Clinical outcome after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for clinical stage I lung cancer with pathologically nodal involvement

The lymph node dissection with video-assisted thoracic surgery( VATS) was technically feasible and the remnant lymph nodes and tissues were 2% to 3%, which seems acceptable for clinical stage I lung cancer. Surgical outcome after VATS for clinical stage I lung cancer with pathologically nodal involvement, however, remains unclear. Medical records of 72 patients who had clinical stage I non small cell lung cancer with pathologically nodal involvement( pN1:21 patients, pN2:51 patients) and underwent VATS lobectomy or segmentectomy with mediastinal dissection between January 2005 and December 2010, were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative recurrence and survival were studied. Remnant nodal recurrence occurred in 8 patients with pN1 (recurrence rate 38%) and 15 patients with pN2 (recurrence rate 29%). The 1- and 3-year disease free survival rate was 87% and 68%. The 1- and 3-year survival rate was 100% and 79%. This study suggested that VATS is acceptable for patients with clinical stage I lung in terms of survival rate, cancer with pN1. In a view point of remnant nodal recurrence, a more skillful dissection procedure is required.     

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。     

Video-assisted thoracic lobectomy with bronchoplasty for lung cancer, with special reference to methodology

Few studies have described video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to bronchoplasty with pulmonary resection. Here, we report the successful implementation of VATS bronchoplasty, as determined retrospectively. Between 2005 and 2010, 362 patients underwent elective lung resection for malignant or benign lung tumors. Of these patients, VATS lobectomy with bronchoplasty was performed in seven patients (four men, three women; median age, 72.9 years). The medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Of the seven patients, six had primary lung cancer (PLC), and one had metastatic cancer of the lung. The surgical procedures were lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty. The patients with PLC also underwent mediastinal or hilar lymph node dissection. The median total operating time was 230 min, and the median blood loss was 152 ml. The median postoperative hospital stay was seven days, without major postoperative complications. The most important feature of the described method is that the surgeon mainly observes the operative field directly, through a working wound; the surgical team observes via a monitor. An advantage for the surgeon is the ability to use the same instruments in VATS as are used in conventional thoracotomy, as well as the same suturing techniques in vascular reconstruction, especially involving the pulmonary artery.     

Decision making about operability in non-small cell lung cancer

With the introduction of combined modality therapy and better staging techniques, the role of surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer is continuously redefined. The final aim of surgical treatment for lung cancer is complete resection, also after neoadjuvant or induction therapy. Precise criteria for complete resection have recently been defined. Definite indications for surgery include clinical stages I, II and resectable IIIA. The precise role for surgical resection in stage IIIA-N2 lung cancer remains controversial but only downstaged patients should be considered. Stage IIIB is mostly treated by chemoradiotherapy. Accurate peroperative or surgical staging is necessary, as well regarding the tumour as nodal factor, to determine the extent of resection. A systematic nodal dissection should be performed including at least three hilar and three mediastinal lymph node stations. Post-induction surgical therapy often represents a greater technical challenge due to a pronounced hilar and mediastinal fibrosis. Downstaging is an important prognostic factor and persisting mediastinal lymph node involvement carries a poor prognosis. The optimal restaging method has not been established yet, but a pathological proof should be obtained. Remediastinoscopy is feasible with an acceptable accuracy but less invasive techniques are currently evaluated.     

Pulmonary nodule. The surgeon's approach

Malignancy must be suspected with any pulmonary nodule detected on radiologic examination of the chest until its benign origin has been proven. This requires further evaluation of the patient. The non invasive diagnostic steps include patient's history, clinical examination, lung function testing, and standard radiographs and a computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Based on these findings the presumed diagnosis claims the next appropriate diagnostic steps. If lung cancer is the most likely diagnosis and lung function testing revealed that the patient is a candidate for lung resection than surgery may be the next step. Preoperative proof of the histologic diagnosis is not mandatory. It is the less required the more surgery may be curative. If curative resectability is indoubt or the patient is not candidate for lung resection than histologic diagnosis should be confirmed prior to introduction of radiotherapy or chemotherapy by the least invasive procedure (bronchoscopy < lymph node biopsy < needle biopsy < mediastinoscopy/-tomy < VATS). If metastatic disease must be suspected, staging should be completed as required for the primary malignancy. With local recurrence and other metastases excluded the number of pulmonary nodules detected on CT scan points to the appropriate surgical approach. In case of a solitary nodule or multiple but resectable nodules, complete (wedge) resection with lymph node dissection through a lateral thoracotomy will be the procedure of choice. With multiple and unresectable nodules, surgery allows definitive diagnosis and videothoracoscopy affords the opportunity to accomplish wedge resection of the lung along with low morbidity. When lesions are deemed indeterminate, definitive diagnosis should nevertheless be attempted. If there is no history of malignancy routine evaluation for such in asymptomatic patients is not indicated. With small nodules (less than 3 cm in diameter) located in the periphery of the lung, videothoracoscopic wedge resection is indicated without preoperative sputum cytology, bronchoscopy or transthoracic needle biopsy. The histologic diagnosis obtained by intraoperative frozen sections than determines the further surgical approach. Benign lesion: completion of surgery; lung cancer: proceed to thoracotomy with anatomic lung resection and mediastinal lymph node resection; metastatic disease: completion of surgery and further search for primary malignancy.     

Novel retractor for lymph node dissection by video-assisted thoracic surgery

In nonrandomized studies, the video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) lobectomy seems to be a safe and effective procedure for treatment of lung cancer. However, there are some difficulties in VATS complete mediastinal lymph node dissection. The presence of the lymph node deep in the mediastinal space necessitates retraction of the surrounding organs. Therefore, we developed a retractor to create enough working space during the VATS procedure. To dissect lymph nodes, we use endoscopic bipolar forceps. These instruments are connected to a special electrosurgical generator to apply bipolar soft coagulation, which enables simultaneous dissection and sealing. Thus, "en bloc" lymph node dissection can be performed during the VATS procedure.     

Decision Making about Operability in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

With the introduction of combined modality therapy and better staging techniques, the role of surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer is continuously redefined.

The final aim of surgical treatment for lung cancer is complete resection, also after neoadjuvant or induction therapy. Precise criteria for complete resection have recently been defined.

Definite indications for surgery include clinical stages I, II and resectable IIIA. The precise role for surgical resection in stage IIIA-N2 lung cancer remains controversial but only downstaged patients should be considered. Stage IIIB is mostly treated by chemoradiotherapy. Accurate peroperative or surgical staging is necessary, as well regarding the tumour as nodal factor, to determine the extent of resection. A systematic nodal dissection should be performed including at least three hilar and three mediastinal lymph node stations.

Post-induction surgical therapy often represents a greater technical challenge due to a pronounced hilar and mediastinal fibrosis. Downstaging is an important prognostic factor and persisting mediastinal lymph node involvement carries a poor prognosis. The optimal restaging method has not been established yet, but a pathological proof should be obtained. Remediastinoscopy is feasible with an acceptable accuracy but less invasive techniques are currently evaluated.     

Minimally invasive pulmonary surgery for lung cancer, up to date

Recently, the minimally invasive surgical approach is an important issue in the pulmonary surgery. In this review, we present the current fashion of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and new approach including robotic lobectomy. There is no clear definition or standard for this surgical procedure regarding VATS lobectomy. Therefore, no randomized controlled trial of VATS and conventional lobectomy can be set up. Although the definition of VATS lobectomy is not straightforward, VATS lobectomy showed the technical feasibility of conventional lobectomy in mortality and postoperative complication as well as lymph node dissection. VATS procedure for advanced lung cancer is unclear whether such observations can be developed into a standardized approach. There are no reports to evaluate the advantages of robotic lobectomy in terms of treatment outcomes for lung cancer compared with VATS lobectomy. However, we believe that robotic lobectomy has clear potential to improve the quality of minimally invasive surgery.     

Outcomes,safety, and feasibility of video-assisted thoracic surgery in lung cancer patients on hemodialysis: a case series

Objective

The rate of surgical resection of lung cancer in patients on hemodialysis is expected to increase due to the development of hemodialysis, improved diagnosis of lung cancer, and increases in the number and age of patients. However, studies assessing outcomes of lung resection in these patients are limited. In this retrospective case series, we investigated the safety and efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy or segmentectomy for lung cancer in patients on hemodialysis.

Methods

Between January 2010 and January 2017, lobectomy or segmentectomy using VATS was performed for seven lung cancer cases in six patients receiving hemodialysis at our institution. There were two female and five male patients, with a median age of 61 years (range 53–76 years). Six patients underwent lobectomy, and segmentectomy and wedge resection were performed in each one case, respectively; systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (ND2a-2) was performed in six patients.

Results

There were no perioperative deaths in this case series. Median recurrence-free and overall survival rates were 20 months (range 3–82 months) and 31 months (range 3–82 months), respectively.

Conclusions

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a safe and effective procedure for resection of lung cancer in hemodialysis patients and should be considered after accurate determination of surgical indications and careful perioperative management.