Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and bilobectomy versus open thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer: Mortality and survival

Background In this study, we aimed to evaluate patients who had non-small cell lung cancer and underwent resection, to investigate our tendency to prefer video-assisted thoracic surgery or open thoracotomy, and to compare 30- and 90-day mortalities and survival rates. Methods Between January 2013 and January 2019, a total of 706 patients (577 males, 129 females; mean age: 61.9±8.6 years; range, 17 to 84 years) who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy due to primary non-small cell lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as operated on through video-assisted thoracic surgery and through open thoracotomy. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates and survival rates were compared. Results Of the patients, 202 (28.6%) underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery and 504 (71.4%) underwent open thoracotomy. Lobectomy was performed in 632 patients (89.5%) and bilobectomy was performed in 74 patients (10.5%). Patients who were chosen for video-assisted thoracic surgery were statistically significantly older, did not require any procedure other than lobectomy, did not receive neoadjuvant therapy, had a small tumor, and did not have lymph node metastases. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates in the video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups were 1.8% vs. 2% and 2.6% vs. 2.5%, respectively. The five-year survival rates of video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups were 74.1% and 65.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The 30- and 90-day mortality and five-year survival rates were 2.1%, 2.6%, and 73.5% in the video-assisted thoracic surgery group and 2.1%, 2.1%, and 68.5% in the open thoracotomy group, respectively, indicating no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion Throughout the study period, video-assisted thoracic surgery was more preferred in patients with advanced age, in those who had a small tumor, who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy, did not have lymph node metastasis, and did not require any procedure other than lobectomy. In the video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups, 30- and 90-day mortality and five-year survival rates were similar. Based on these findings, both procedures seem to be acceptable in this patient population.