Very long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The most critical parameter in the evaluation of the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer is long-term outcome. In this study, patients in whom more than 5 years had elapsed since they had undergone VATS lobectomy for lung cancer were identified, and the 5-year survival rate and frequency of recurrence were evaluated as the long-term outcomes; in addition, the frequency of perioperative complications were also evaluated as the short-term outcomes.

METHODS: The stage, histology, perioperative complications, recurrence, and survival data were carefully reviewed in 198 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy for lung cancer between 1998 and 2002.

RESULTS: Median postoperative follow-up period was 72.1 months. Of the 198 patients, 138 and 30 were diagnosed as having p-stage IA and IB disease, respectively, while the remaining 30 patients had more advanced disease. Perioperative complications were observed in 20 patients (10.1%), however, there were no perioperative mortalities. Recurrence was observed in 26 patients (13.1%): of these, 11 patients showed local recurrence, including malignant pleural effusion and mediastinal lymph node recurrence, and 16 patients showed distant metastasis, the lung being the commonest site of metastasis; six patients had both local recurrence and distant metastasis. During the study period, there were 26 deaths (13.1%), of which 17 were due to lung cancer and 9 were due to other causes. The 5-year overall survival rates of the patients with p-stage IA and IB disease were 93.5% and 81.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: VATS lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer is as feasible and safe as open lobectomy in terms of both very long- and short-term outcomes.