title: Is video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy better? Quality of life considerations.
abstract: Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy has controversial advantages over traditional open surgical approaches. Subjective concerns such as pain, dyspnea, physical functioning, and overall satisfaction generally favor VATS but vary depending on survey timing. Independence, a major quality of life component, favors video-assisted thoracic surgery because fewer objective hospital and discharge resources are needed because pulmonary function, activity level, muscle strength, and walking capacity are better. Video-assisted thoracic surgery often hastens return to work and facilitates adjuvant chemotherapy or subsequent urgent surgical procedures. Video-assisted thoracic surgery-related quality of life benefits are amplified by advanced age (or other frailties) and reduced by advanced cancer stage or comorbid illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA. todd.demmy@roswellpark.org
authors.forename: Todd L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Demmy
authors.forename: Chukwumere
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nwogu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome