[Complication rate after thoracoscopic and conventional lobectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a thoracoscopic lobectomy used for treatment of primary non-small cell lung cancer shows a higher or lower morbidity in comparison to the conventional resection (thoracotomy) postoperatively.


METHODS
42 patients with the presumption diagnosis of a lung cancer received a thoracoscopic lobectomy (n=28) or a conventional lobectomy (n=14). Postoperative complication rate (30 days) was analysed prospectively. There were no differences between the groups referring to age, co-morbidity, localisation of the tumor and stage.


RESULTS
Patients with a conventional operation revealed a significant higher morbidity in comparison to the patients of the thoracoscopic group (50 % vs. 14.2 %, p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The thoracoscopic lobectomy represents a safe operation method and an alternative to the conventional operation (thoracotomy).
Hoksch
Beatrix
B
Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie, Charité Campus Mitte, Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. hoksch@t-online.de
Ablassmaier
B
B
Walter
M
M
Müller
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013908:Thoracotomy