Short-Term and Mid-Term Outcomes of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Nam Nguyen Van,1 Pham Ngoc Hung,2,3 Le Tien Dung,4 Le Viet Anh,1 Dinh Cong Pho,5 Bui Dang The Anh,2 Vu Anh Hai1 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Department of Epidemiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Department of Training, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Phạm Ngá»c Thạch Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 5Department of Infection Control, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Vu Anh HaiDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Dong District, Hanoi, VietnamTel +84986112345Email vuanhhai.ncs@gmail.comBackground: Mid-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Vietnam should be evaluated and discussed.Methods: This prospective descriptive study was conducted on 94 patients with NSCLC under stages I–IIA who were treated with VATS from November 2011 to July 2014.Results: The median patient age was 55.5 ± 10.8 years. The rate of successful VATS for NSCLC treatment was 98.9%, and the conversion rate (from VATS to thoracotomy) was 1.1%. The operative time was 143.8 ± 38.9 minutes, the amount of blood loss was 194.8 ± 150.5 mL, and the postoperative complication rate was 10.6%. The ICU length stay was 2.8 ± 1.0 days, and the postoperative hospital length stay was 7.7 ± 2.1 days. Among the 89 patients with successful follow-up, one (1.1%) had a recurrent tumor, and ten (11.8%) had metastasis. The 1- and 2-year relative survival rates were 95.9% (3 deaths) and 80.8% (9 deaths), respectively.Conclusion: VATS treatment for early stage NSCLC is an effective method with safe outcomes. The mid-term outcomes were acceptable with 1- and 2-year relative survival rates of 95.9% and 80.8%, respectively.Keywords: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, VATS, non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC, early-stage, short-term outcomes, mid-term outcomes