title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is associated with better perioperative outcomes than open lobectomy in a veteran population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to establish the feasibility and efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy in treating lung cancer in a veteran population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters in 46 VATS versus 45 open lobectomy patients at a single center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were similar in preoperative and intraoperative variables. Although surgical mortality was not significantly different after lobectomy performed with VATS (0 of 46) compared with open lobectomy (2 of 45, 4%; P = .2), there were fewer complications in VATS patients (14 of 46, 30%) than their open counterparts (26 of 45, 58%; P = .009). VATS patients also had a shorter chest tube duration and length of stay. In multivariate analysis, VATS was associated independently with a reduced risk of complications (odds ratio, .359; P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS lobectomy in a veteran population is feasible and safe and may lead to better perioperative outcomes than open thoracotomy without compromising oncologic principles.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Miguel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cajipe
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Faisal G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Bakaeen
authors.forename: Roberto F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Casal
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: LeMaire
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Coselli
authors.forename: Lorraine D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Cornwell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans