Safety and Technical Feasibility of Single-direction VATS Lobectomy: a Review of 1040 Cases

Objective To evaluate the safety and technical feasibility of single-direction video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for patients with pulmonary diseases. Methods From May 2006 to Sep 2012, 1040 patients with pulmonary diseases were treated by single-direction video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. These included 565 men (54.3%) and 475 women (45.7%), with a mean age of (56.3±13.2) years. The patients suffered from lung cancer (800), benign disease (205), pulmonary metastases (34), and lymphoma (1). Their perioperative data were collected and reviewed. Results Of the 1040 patients, 7 died (0.67%); 18 (1.73%) were converted to open surgery; 134 had postoperative complications (12.88%). The patients underwent an average of (169±64) min operations, lost an average of (93±113) mL (range, 5-935 mL) blood, had an average of (3.3±1.9) cm (range, 1.2-12 cm) diameters of mass removed and an average (15.8±7.7) (range, 5-52) lymph nodes dissected. The patients had an average of (3.8±2.6) days (range, 1-16 days) drainage during an average of (7.0±2.8) days (range, 4-19 days) postoperative hospital stay. Conclusion Single-direction thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure in the treatment of pulmonary diseases.