title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients: a single-center, case-matched study.
abstract: The incidence of non-small-cell lung cancer among elderly patients has increased; therefore, older patients are increasingly being considered for radical pulmonary resection. However, data regarding the outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in elderly patients are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of VATS in elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. From January 2008 to January 2014, a total of 78 patients aged ≥ 70 years (elderly group) undergoing VATS for NSCLC were matched with 78 patients < 70 years (young group) by demographics, tumor characteristics, and details of surgical procedures. The elderly group was characterized by a higher incidence of hypertension (P = 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.014), and ≥ 2 comorbidities (P = 0.009). Intraoperative variables, such as surgical duration blood loss, and transfusion rate, were not notably different between the groups. Postoperative 30-day mortality, 30-day complications, and 30-day major complications were comparable between the groups. The 5-year overall survival rates were 69% in the young group and 64% in the elderly group, respectively (P = 0.258). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 65% in the young group and 60% in the elderly group, respectively (P = 0.327). Our results clearly demonstrated that VATS for non-small-cell lung cancer could be safely and efficacy performed in elderly patients; thus, advanced age itself should not be regarded as a contraindication for VATS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Keqiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weiqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Beijing Military Command 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pei
keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer; elderly patients; pulmonary resection; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery