title: Thoracoscopic lobectomy: is a training program feasible with low postoperative morbidity?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of training program in video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy comparing intraoperative and postoperative data of patients operated on by an established consultant and trainees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients who underwent VATS lobectomies between May 2008 and May 2012. 66 patients were operated on by an established consultant (Group A) and 34 by trainees (Group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were comparable for clinical characteristics and pathological staging. The mean operating time in Group A was 125 ± 30 min and in Group B was 133 ± 26 min (p = 0.18). The rate of conversion was similar in both groups: 9.1% in Group A and 8.8% in Group B (p = 0.6). The complication rate was comparable (p = 0.4): 36.3% in Group A and 32.3% in Group B. Median time to drain removal and median length of hospital stay was 3 and 5.5 days in Group A and 3 and 5 days in Group B, showing no statistical differences between the two groups (p = 0.3 and 0.5). There were no differences in term of long-term complications between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that a training program in VATS lobectomy is feasible, without increasing the operative time, conversion rate, postoperative complication, time to drain removal, and length of hospital stay.
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK. andrea_bille@hotmail.it
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Billè
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Okiror
authors: Wolfram
authors: W
authors: Karenovics
authors: Debajeet
authors: D
authors: Choudhuri
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Routledge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004493:Education; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education*