Abstract：Objective To explore the safety and applicability of video-assited thorascopic lobectomy and lymphadenectomy for lung cancer. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Fifty-four people who had been preoperatively confirmed to be patients of lung cancer from 2008 to 2012 were divided into VATS group and standard thoracotomy group. The operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, number of dissected lymph nodes and cost of treatment were compared between the two groups. Results One patient in the VATS group was subjected to open surgery. There was significant difference between the two groups in blood-loss, postoperative drainage time and the length of hospital stay, but not in the operation time or the number of dissected lymph nodes. The average cost of surgery in VATS group was much higher than that of thoracotomy group （P<0.01） while the average cost of drugs in VATS group was much lower （P<0.01）. Conclusion Thorascopic lobectomy and lymphadenectomy by VATS is safe and feasible with the advantage of less invasion, less surgical trauma and pain, a lower rate of complication, lower costs and better curative effect.
2012, Vol. 23 
