General thoracic surgery
Anatomic segmentectomy for stage I non–small-cell lung cancer: Comparison of video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open approach

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.08.028Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Objectives

Anatomic segmentectomy is increasingly being considered as a means of achieving an R0 resection for peripheral, small, stage I non–small-cell lung cancer. In the current study, we compare the results of video-assisted thoracic surgery (n = 104) versus open (n = 121) segmentectomy in the treatment of stage I non–small-cell lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 225 consecutive anatomic segmentectomies were performed for stage IA (n = 138) or IB (n = 87) non–small-cell lung cancer from 2002 to 2007. Primary outcome variables included hospital course, complications, mortality, recurrence, and survival. Statistical comparisons were performed utilizing the t test and Fisher exact test. The probability of overall and recurrence-free survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, with significance being estimated by the log-rank test.

Results

Mean age (69.9 years) and gender distribution were similar between the video-assisted thoracic surgery and open groups. Average tumor size was 2.3 cm (2.1 cm video-assisted thoracic surgery; 2.4 cm open). Mean follow-up was 16.2 (video-assisted thoracic surgery) and 28.2 (open) months. There were 2 perioperative deaths (2/225; 0.9%), both in the open group. Video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy was associated with decreased length of stay (5 vs 7 days, P < .001) and pulmonary complications (15.4% vs 29.8%, P = .012) compared with open segmentectomy. Overall mortality, complications, local and systemic recurrence, and survival were similar between video-assisted thoracic surgery and open segmentectomy groups.

Conclusions

Video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy can be performed with acceptable morbidity, mortality, recurrence, and survival. The video-assisted thoracic surgery approach affords a shorter length of stay and fewer postoperative pulmonary complications compared with open techniques. The potential benefits and limitations of segmentectomy will need to be further evaluated by prospective, randomized trials.

CTSNet classification

10

Abbreviations and Acronyms

NSCLC
non–small-cell lung cancer
VATS
video-assisted thoracic surgery

Cited by (0)

Disclosures: Supported by Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute, UPMC Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Presented at The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 88th Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 10 to 14, 2008.