Better pulmonary function and prognosis with video-assisted thoracic surgery than with thoracotomy

Background. Data regarding pulmonary function and prognosis after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy are limited. Methods. From September 1992 to April 2000, 204 video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomies were performed, and their preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function test results and prognoses were evaluated. Results. The postoperative to preoperative ratio of pulmonary function tests (vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s) were better in video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy than in open thoracotomy (p< 0.0001). Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate of pathologic stage I lung cancers after video-assisted thoracic surgery was 97.0%, whereas that after open thoracotomy was 78.5% (p = 0.0173; Mantel-Cox). Conclusions. Pulmonary function and prognosis were far better after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy than after open thoracotomy.