Is lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery an adequate cancer operation?

Background. Although the public perceives video-assisted thoracic surgery ( VATS) as advantageous because it is less invasive than a thoracotomy, the m edical community has questioned the safety of VATS lobectomy and its adequa cy as a cancer operation. Reported series have not been able to address the se issues because follow-up has been only short-term. Methods. A multiinstitutional, retrospective review was performed in 298 co nsecutive patients who underwent VATS for a standard anatomic lobectomy wit h lymph node dissection for lung cancer. Pathologic staging was I in 233 (7 8%), II in 27 (9%), and IIIA in 38 (13%) patients. Kaplan Meier survival an alysis was performed. Results. The conversion rate from VATS lobectomy to thoracotomy was 6%, but none were for massive intraoperative bleeding. The only death (0.3%) was b ecause of mesenteric venous thrombosis. Forty minor complications occurred in 38 patients (12.8%) undergoing VATS. The mean and median lengths of stay were 5 +/- 3.39 and 4 days, respectively. Recurrence in an incision occurr ed in 1 patient (0.3%). The Kaplan Meier 4-year survival for stage I was 70 % +/- 5%. Conclusion. The VATS lobectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma appears to be a s afe operation, with the same survival as expected for a lobectomy done by t horacotomy. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.