Is video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy in benign disease practical and effective?

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy: The first Indian report

INTRODUCTION

The fear of pleural adhesions and densely stuck lymph nodes in India, a country where tuberculosis is endemic, is one major factor keeping our surgeons away from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. In this paper, we aim to report our experience with performing VATS lobectomy in 102 cases using a standardised three-port anterior approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between March 2012 and September 2016, we performed 102 VATS lobectomies. Sixty patients (58.8%) were males and 42 females (41.2%), with a mean age of 42.02 years. Diagnoses were as follows: benign disease (72), lung cancer (27) and pulmonary metastases (3). Among the cases with primary lung cancer, twenty out of 27 (74%) were adenocarcinoma and 7 cases of squamous carcinoma (25.92%). All patients underwent lobectomy by a standardised three-port anterior approach.

RESULTS

The overall conversion rate was 8.82% (n = 9). We observed no postoperative complications in 82 (80.4%) patients. The average blood loss was 211.37 ml. Mean operative time was 173 min. Median length of hospital stay was 5 with median chest tube duration of 4.9 days. There was no in hospital or 30-day mortality. The most common complication was prolonged air leak.

CONCLUSION

From this first Indian series, it is clear that VATS lobectomy is feasible in both benign and malignant cases. It also shows that the fear of adhesions is unwarranted and properly selected benign cases can also undergo VATS lobectomy safely.

Anatomic lung resections for benign pulmonary diseases by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

PURPOSE

Based on increasing evidence of its benefits regarding perioperative and oncologic outcome, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has gained increasing acceptance in the surgical treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the evidence for a VATS approach in anatomic lung resection for benign pulmonary diseases is still limited.

METHODS

Between March 2011 and May 2014, data from 33 and 63 patients who received VATS anatomic lung resection for benign diseases (VATS-B) and early stage NSCLC (VATS-N), respectively, were analyzed retrospectively. For subgroup analyses, VATS-B was subdivided by operation time and underlying diseases. Subgroups were compared to VATS-N.

RESULTS

Three patients from VATS-B and four from VATS-N experienced conversion to open surgery. Causes of conversion in VATS-B were intraoperative complications, whereas conversions in VATS-N were elective for oncological concerns (p < 0.05). Operation time and duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation were longer by tendency; postoperative stay on intensive care unit and chest tube duration were significantly longer in VATS-B. Subgroup analyses showed a longer operation time as a predictor for worse perioperative outcome regarding postoperative mechanical ventilation, postoperative stay on intensive care unit, chest tube duration, and length of hospital stay. Patients with longer operation time suffered from more postoperative complications. Differences in perioperative outcome data were not significantly dependent on the underlying benign diseases compared to VATS-N.

CONCLUSIONS

VATS is feasible and safe in anatomic lung resection for benign pulmonary diseases. Not the underlying disease, but a longer operation time is a factor for worse postoperative outcome.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a safe option for benign lung diseases requiring lobectomy

BACKGROUND

Lobectomy for benign lung disease is renowned to be technically complex and to be subjected to an increased complication rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the results obtained with video-assisted surgery (VATS) in benign disease are comparable to those obtained in oncologic surgery, where VATS has been validated.

METHODS

We have reviewed the files of 246 consecutive patients who underwent VATS lobectomy from January 2012 to August 2015. The cohort was divided into two groups according to pathology (benign or malignant). Outcome parameters on scrutiny were demographics, pathology, duration of air leak, drainage and hospital stay, conversion, and perioperative complication rate. Comparisons were made with the χ ² test and Student's t test; any p value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.

RESULTS

Group 1 (36 patients) included patients who underwent lobectomy for benign disease and group 2 (210 patients) patients affected by lung cancer or pulmonary metastases. The two groups differed with reference to age (p < 0.001), history of cancer (p < 0.001), history of stroke (p = 0.05), and the presence of pleural adhesions (p = 0.03). There was no difference for duration of air leaks, chest tube drainage and hospital stay, conversion rate, and perioperative complication rate.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that pathology did not impact on outcomes after VATS lobectomy. This study suggests that VATS is as a safe option in selected patients with benign disease requiring lobectomy, despite a more complex technical context.