Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparability of simple lateral thoracotomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in lobectomy for clinical T1N0 lung carcinoma. Between June 1997 and September 1998, 52 patients with lung carcinoma underwent lobectomy and systemic mediastinal lymph node dissection ; 22 by VATS without rib spreading (VATS group) and remaining 30 through a simple lateral thoracotomy with rib spreading (lateral thoracotomy group). Although the length of minithoracotomy was significantly longer in the lateral thoracotomy group (VATS group, 6.2 cm ; lateral thoracotomy group, 9.7 cm ; p<0. 0001), no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the intraoperative blood loss (VATS group, 35.2 g ; lateral thoracotomy group, 32.5 g ; n. s.) or the operative time (VATS group, 177.3 min ; lateral thoracotomy group, 166.6 min ; n. s.). There were no differences between the two groups in duration of chest tube drainage (VATS group, 3.7 days ; lateral thoracotomy group, 4.1 days ; n. s.) and length of postoperative hospitalization (VATS group, 9.1 days ; lateral thoracotomy group, 9.7 days ; n. s.). Lobectomy via a simple lateral thoracotomy with rib spreading had no disadvantages in increased length of postoperative hospitalization and so on, when compared with thoracoscopic lobectomy. Simple lateral thoracotomy should be considered as a minimally invasive approach, because it is comparable with VATS.
