title: Safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer in a low-volume unit.
abstract: Several studies have demonstrated that for complex surgical procedures, surgeons who treat more patients have better outcomes than their lower-volume counterparts. The aim of this paper is to review the experience with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomies in our small thoracic unit (group A), to understand whether our short-term results were different to the outcomes obtained by the same surgeon previously working in a high-volume unit (group B). 37 patients underwent VATS lobectomy. Hospital stay was on average 4.5 days (group A) versus 4.1 days (group B). Operative time and the number of 'frozen sections' were higher in group A. Hospital mortality was 0. VATS lobectomies are a safe approach in a low-volume unit formed by a single surgeon with a previous high-volume experience.
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Criscione
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrata
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.affiliation: Medical student, Faculty of Medicine University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Masi
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariapia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General Surgery & Medical Specialities, University of Catania, Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scalieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D061646:Operative Time; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: VATS lobectomy; anatomical VATS resection; low-volume center; non-small-cell lung cancer