Initial experience of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery sleeve lobectomy and systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we evaluate the feasibility and safety of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) sleeve lobectomy (SL) and systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy and summarize our surgical experience.


METHODS
From October 2014 to December 2015, eight cases of single-port VATS SL [seven male patients and one female patient, median age 56.0 (range, 38-63) years] were performed by a single group of surgeons in Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital. The median tumor size was 2.7 cm. Types of resection included four right upper, one right lower, and three left upper sleeve lobectomies. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed in all patients. A modified anastomosis technique developed by the author (Chen's technique) was applied for bronchial anastomosis. Postoperative outcome and short-term follow-up data were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
All eight operations were completed uneventfully with no conversion to thoracotomy or reoperation required. No perioperative death was observed. Major results (medians or percentages) were as follows: operative duration, 234.5 [185-345] min; bronchial anastomosis duration, 38.0 [30-43] min; blood loss, 65.0 [50-200] mL; number of lymph node dissected, 22.5 [18-37]. The postoperative complication rate was 37.5% (three of eight cases, including two pulmonary infections and one atrial fibrillation). All patients recovered and were discharged uneventfully with symptomatic therapy. Pathology showed squamous cell carcinoma in seven patients and adenocarcinoma in one patient; two patients were in TNM stage IB, three in stage IIA, one in stage IIB, and two in stage IIIA. The mean follow-up was 7.5 [2-15] months. There were no tumor recurrences or bronchial anastomotic complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Single-port VATS SL and mediastinal lymphadenectomy are safe and feasible. Improvements in operating procedures can help facilitate single-port VATS. The application of Chen's technique in bronchial anastomosis is easy and reliable and shows a satisfactory short-term clinical outcome.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Hao
H
Chen
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Guobing
G
Xu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Bin
B
Zheng
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Wei
W
Zheng
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Yong
Y
Zhu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Zhaohui
Z
Guo
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Fujian Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Chun
C
Chen
Single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (single-port VATS); bronchial anastomosis; non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); sleeve lobectomy (SL); systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy