[Clinical analysis of thoracoscopic lobectomy: a report of 40 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To review the technology of completely thoracoscopic lobectomy procedures.


METHODS
From September 2006 to July 2007, 40 patients (23 male and 17 female) underwent completely thoracoscopic lobectomy. The median age was 59.5-years-old, with a range from 24 to 79-years-old. The lobectomy was completed through 3 incision in the 5th, 8th and 7th intercostal space. The procedures were similar with conventional open lobectomy.


RESULTS
All procedure were carried out safely, including lung cancer (n = 34), lymphoma(n = 1), pulmonary cyst (n = 1), middle lobe syndrome (n = 1) , bronchiectasis (n = 2) and renal carcinoma metastasis to lung (n = 1). There were no operative mortality or serious complications. There was one patient opposed to open thoracotomy because of the mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis. The average surgical duration was 206 min (range from 60 to 300 min). The average blood loss was 221 ml (range from 100 to 400 ml) with no blood transfusion required. The average length of stay was 8.9 d. No recurrence and metastasis was observed in a follow-up range from 1 to 10 months except one patient with adenocarcinoma occurred metastasis of tumor 3 months postoperation.


CONCLUSIONS
The completely thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure compared with conventional open lobectomy for selected patients.
Li
Yun
Y
Department of Thoracic Surgery, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.
Wang
Jun
J
Liu
Jun
J
Li
Jian-feng
JF
Jiang
Guan-chao
GC
Zhao
Hui
H
Yang
Fan
F
Liu
Yan-guo
YG
Zhou
Zu-li
ZL
Bu
Liang
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome