title: Very long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most critical parameter in the evaluation of the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer is long-term outcome. In this study, patients in whom more than 5 years had elapsed since they had undergone VATS lobectomy for lung cancer were identified, and the 5-year survival rate and frequency of recurrence were evaluated as the long-term outcomes; in addition, the frequency of perioperative complications were also evaluated as the short-term outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The stage, histology, perioperative complications, recurrence, and survival data were carefully reviewed in 198 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy for lung cancer between 1998 and 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median postoperative follow-up period was 72.1 months. Of the 198 patients, 138 and 30 were diagnosed as having p-stage IA and IB disease, respectively, while the remaining 30 patients had more advanced disease. Perioperative complications were observed in 20 patients (10.1%), however, there were no perioperative mortalities. Recurrence was observed in 26 patients (13.1%): of these, 11 patients showed local recurrence, including malignant pleural effusion and mediastinal lymph node recurrence, and 16 patients showed distant metastasis, the lung being the commonest site of metastasis; six patients had both local recurrence and distant metastasis. During the study period, there were 26 deaths (13.1%), of which 17 were due to lung cancer and 9 were due to other causes. The 5-year overall survival rates of the patients with p-stage IA and IB disease were 93.5% and 81.6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer is as feasible and safe as open lobectomy in terms of both very long- and short-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, 160 Minamiumemoto-cyo Kou, Ehime, 791-0280, Japan. ssawada@shikoku-cc.go.jp
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Eisaku
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015996:Survival Rate; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome